US markets end higher on Thursday

08 Jul 2022 Evaluate

The US markets ended higher on Thursday, extending their previous session’s gains, as investors indulged in some strong buying in several sectors amid hopes the central bank would gradually start lightening its policy stance later this year. The minutes from the Federal Reserve's June meeting, released on Wednesday, said the members of the central bank said there would be another 50 or 75-basis point move in the July meeting. The minutes also said that the participants continued to anticipate that ongoing increases in the target range for the federal funds would be appropriate to achieve the monetary policy committee's objectives. Still, worries about a recession eased a bit as Fed officials have acknowledged that higher rates might have a larger-than-anticipated impact on growth and feel that an increase of 50 or 75 basis points would likely be appropriate at the policy meeting in July.

On the economic data front, data released by the Commerce Department shows US trade deficit narrowed to $85.5 billion in May of 2022, from $87.1 billion a month earlier. Exports were up 1.2 percent or $3.0 billion in May from a month earlier, to $255.9 billion, while imports increased to $341.4 billion in May from $339.5 billion in April. Data from the Labor Department showed initial jobless claims rose to 235,000 in the week ended July 2nd. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, initial claims rose by 11,919 from the previous week to 219,507. On the sectoral front, energy stocks were among those leading the gains on Thursday, reversing some recent losses as oil prices rebounded. Exxon rose 3.2%, and Occidental Petroleum gained nearly 4%.

Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 346.87 points or 1.12 percent to 31,384.55, Nasdaq soared 259.49 points or 2.28 percent to 11,621.35 and S&P 500 was up by 57.54 points or 1.5 percent to 3,902.62. 


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