US markets ended mostly lower on record contraction in US economic activity in Q2

31 Jul 2020 Evaluate

The US markets ended mostly lower on Thursday following the release of a report from the Commerce Department showing a record contraction in US economic activity in the second quarter (Q2).  The report said real gross domestic product plummeted at an annual rate of 32.9 percent in the second quarter following a 5.0 percent slump in the first quarter. While GDP showed the biggest quarterly drop on record, the plunge was not quite as steep as the 34.1 percent nosedive expected by street. Consumer spending led the decrease, cratering by 34.6 percent in the second quarter, as the coronavirus-induced lockdowns in late March and April forced many consumers to stay at home.

Meanwhile, first-time claims for US unemployment benefits increased for the second straight week in the week ended July 25th, according to a report released by the Labor Department, although claims rose by less than expected. The report said initial jobless claims edged up to 1.434 million, an increase of 12,000 from the previous week's revised level of 1,422,000. Street had expected jobless claims to rise to 1.450 million from the 1.416 million originally reported for the previous week. The increase in jobless claims seen over the past two weeks came on the heels of decreases in the fifteen preceding weeks. Besides, lack of progress in talks between congressional Democrats, Republicans and the White House on a new coronavirus aid package also weighed on sentiment.

Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 225.92 points 0.85 percent to 26,313.65 and S&P 500 was down by 12.22 points or 0.38 percent to 3,246.22, while Nasdaq rose 44.87 points or 0.43 percent 10,587.81.

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