US markets end higher on Thursday

12 Mar 2021 Evaluate

The US markets ended higher on Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 reaching new record closing highs, as a rebound in tech shares resumed and President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief package became law. Signs that the US economy may be set for a healthy 2021 were plentiful after Biden signed his much-anticipated $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package into law. The plan will send direct payments of up to $1,400 to many Americans, and will also put nearly $20 billion into Covid-19 vaccinations and $350 billion into state, local and tribal government relief.

Buying interest also have been generated in reaction to a report from the Labor Department showing first-time claims for US unemployment benefits fell to a four-month low in the week ended March 6th. The Labor Department said initial jobless claims dropped to 712,000, a decrease of 42,000 from the previous week's revised level of 754,000. Street had expected jobless claims to dip to 725,000 from the 745,000 originally reported for the previous week. With the bigger than expected decrease, jobless claims fell to their lowest level since hitting 711,000 in the week ended November 7th.

Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 188.57 points or 0.58 percent to 32,485.59, Nasdaq rose 329.84 points or 2.52 percent to 13,398.67 and S&P 500 was up by 40.53 points or 1.04 percent to 3,939.34.

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