US markets end sharply higher on Friday

02 Jul 2022 Evaluate

The US markets ended volatile session sharply higher on Friday as traders went bargain hunting following the significant decrease seen early in the session. Concerns about the possibility of tighter monetary policy triggering a global recession continue to weigh on the markets in early trading. Central banks from around the world have signaled their intent to continue to raising interest rates in an effort to fight inflation while acknowledging they can't guarantee a ‘soft landing’ for the economy. Stocks came under pressure following the release of a report from the Institute for Supply Management showing the pace of growth in U.S. manufacturing activity slowed by more than expected in the month of June. The ISM said its manufacturing PMI slid to 53.0 in June from 56.1 in May, although a reading above 50 still indicates growth in the sector. Economists had expected the index to dip to 54.9. With the bigger than expected decrease, the manufacturing PMI slumped to its lowest level since hitting 52.4 in June of 2020. A separate report from the Commerce Department showed U.S. construction spending unexpectedly edged lower in the month of May.

On the sectoral front, housing stocks moved sharply higher over the course of the trading session, driving the Philadelphia Housing Sector Index up by 3.9 percent. Substantial strength also emerged among gold stocks, as reflected by the 2.9 percent spike by the NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index. The rally by gold stocks came despite a continued decrease by the price of the precious metal, with gold for August delivery falling $5.80 to $1,801.50 an ounce. Biotechnology stocks also showed a strong move to the upside on the day, resulting in a 2.5 percent jump by the NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index. Utilities, airline, retail and commercial real estate stocks also moved notably higher over the course of the session.

Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 321.83 points or 1.05 percent to 31,097.26, Nasdaq soared 99.11 points or 0.90 percent to 11,127.85 and S&P 500 was up by 39.95 points or 1.06 percent to 3,825.33.

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