US markets end mostly higher on Friday

08 Aug 2020 Evaluate

The US markets ended mostly higher on Friday after trading in the red for most part of the day's session. Markets managed to take out some gains despite Washington’s failure to produce a last-minute coronavirus aid package before Congress takes a summer recess, leaving America’s economic recovery hanging in the balance. Traders were reacting to reports saying spikes in virus cases in several parts across the world. Growing uncertainty about a new coronavirus relief plan following the failure of the policymakers to arrive at an agreement rendered the mood cautious on Wall Street. Tensions between the US and China have escalated following the Trump administration unveiling a ban on US transactions with ByteDance's TikTok and Tencent-owned WeChat.

Investors remain hopeful that America’s economy eventually will receive another shot in the arm in the form of government spending, they also worry that last month’s job gains, reported by the Labor Department on Friday, might cause Congress to drag its feet. The Labor Department's report said employment jumped by 1.8 million jobs in July after surging up by 4.8 million jobs in the previous month. Street had expected employment to increase by 1.6 million jobs. The bigger than expected spike in employment came amid a sharp increase in employment in the retail sector, which added 258,300 jobs. The unemployment rate dropped to 10.2 percent in July from 11.1 percent in June. The unemployment rate was expected to dip to 10.5 percent.

Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 46.50 points 0.17 percent to 27,433.48 and S&P 500 gained 2.12 points or 0.06 percent to 3,351.28, while Nasdaq was down by 97.09 points or 0.87 percent 11,010.98.

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