US markets end higher on upbeat earnings updates

20 Oct 2021 Evaluate

The US markets ended higher on Tuesday as major companies continued to report strong third-quarter earnings, easing concerns that persistent Covid cases. Upbeat earnings reports from Travelers Companies Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble and Netflix lifted sentiment. So far, 82% of S&P 500 companies that have reported earnings beat expectations, according to private report. It further stated taking into account those reports and estimates for those to come, third-quarter profit growth will come in at 30%. Meanwhile, energy stocks had a fairly good outing as falling temperatures in China pushed oil prices higher. Technology stocks moved higher, extending recent gains. Pharmaceuticals and utilities stocks advanced as well.

On the economic data front, a report released by the Commerce Department showed an unexpected decrease in new US residential construction in the month of September. The report said housing starts fell by 1.6 percent to an annual rate of 1.555 million in September from a revised rate of 1.580 million in August. Street had expected housing starts to inch up to a rate of 1.620 million from the 1.615 million originally reported for the previous month. The report also showed building permits plunged by 7.7 percent to an annual rate of 1.589 million from a revised rate of 1.721 million in August. Building permits, an indicator of future housing demand, were expected to drop to a rate of 1.680 million from the 1.728 million originally reported for the previous month.

Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 198.7 points or 0.56 percent to 35,457.31, Nasdaq rose 107.28 points or 0.71 percent to 15,129.09 and S&P 500 was up by 33.17 points or 0.74 percent to 4,519.63. 

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