US markets settle higher on Monday

21 Jul 2020 Evaluate

The US markets ended higher on Monday, with the Nasdaq scoring a record close, as traders cycled back into big-name tech stocks. Shares of Amazon skyrocketed by 7.9 percent after Goldman Sachs and Jefferies both raised their price targets for the online retail giant to $3,800 per share. Software giant Microsoft, Google parent Alphabet and tech giant Apple also posted standout gains. The jump by Microsoft also contributed to significant strength in the software sector, with the Dow Jones US Software Index soaring by 4.1 percent. Further, investors focused on positive developments from coronavirus vaccine candidates and talks in Washington on fresh stimulus. Meanwhile, investors looked forward to quarterly results from corporations over the coming days.

However, the US coronavirus case tally rose to nearly 3.8 million on Monday and the death toll topped 140,000, as new infections continued to surge in the South and West. While the federal government has refused to mandate facial coverings, major retailers have begun to impose their own requirements. The escalation of the deadly pandemic in the US is diminishing hopes for a V-shaped, or quick and strong, economic recovery from the pandemic, as the virus taxes the public-health systems of some states and municipalities and forces local officials to restore lockdown measures to limit a more severe outbreak.  

Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 8.92 points or 0.03 percent to 26,680.87, Nasdaq rose 263.9 points or 2.51 percent 10,767.09 and S&P 500 was up by 27.11 points or 0.84 percent to 3,251.84.  

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