US markets end sharply lower amid rising COVID-19 cases

27 Oct 2020 Evaluate

The US markets ended sharply lower on Monday, following the lackluster performance seen in the previous session, amid concerns about a resurgence in coronavirus cases, with new infections reaching a new record high last Friday. Data from John Hopkins University showed that new coronavirus cases reached a new high of 83,757 last Friday and topped 83,000 again on Saturday. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows argued that the pandemic could not be controlled and suggested the administration would focus on vaccines and therapeutics. The spike in new coronavirus cases comes as lawmakers in Washington appear to remain at an impasse over a new stimulus bill.

Adding to the negative sentiment, the Commerce Department released a report showing an unexpected slump in new home sales in the month of September. The report said new home sales tumbled by 3.5 percent to an annual rate of 959,000 in September after jumping by 3 percent to a revised rate of 994,000 in August. The pullback surprised participants, who had expected new home sales to surge up by 2.8 percent. The unexpected pullback in new home sales was partly due to a steep drop in sales in the Northeast, which plunged by 28.9 percent to a rate of 32,000. New home sales in the Midwest and South also slumped by 4.1 percent and 4.7 percent, respectively, while new home sales in the West spiked by 3.8 percent.

Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 650.19 points or 2.29 percent to 27,685.38, Nasdaq fell 189.35 points or 1.64 percent to 11,358.94 and S&P 500 was down by 64.42 points or 1.86 percent 3,400.97. 

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