US markets end higher on Monday

16 Aug 2022 Evaluate

The US markets ended higher on Monday despite weak industrial output, retail sales and fixed-asset investment data out of China. Data showing weak business activity in New York hurt as well. New York manufacturing activity has unexpectedly seen a substantial contraction in the month of August, according to a report released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The New York Fed said its general business conditions index plummeted to a negative 31.3 in August from a positive 11.1 in July, with a negative reading indicating a contraction in regional manufacturing activity. Street had expected the index to show a much more modest decrease to a positive 8.5. The unexpected contraction in regional manufacturing activity came as the new orders plunged to a negative 29.6 in August from a positive 6.2 in July, while the shipments index dove to a negative 24.1 from a positive 25.3.

The report showed the number of employees index also fell to 7.4 in August from 18.0 in July, although a positive reading still indicates job growth. Meanwhile, a report released by the National Association of Home Builders unexpectedly showed a continued deterioration in US homebuilder confidence in the month of August. The report showed the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index dropped to 49 in August from 55 in July. Street had expected the index to come in unchanged. With the unexpected decrease, the housing market index fell below the key break-even measure of 50 for the first time since May 2020. However, stock specific development, Snap rallied more than 5 percent, buoyed by an announcement from the company that its subscription services Snapchat+ had surpassed 1 million paid users.

 Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 151.39 points or 0.45 percent to 33,912.44, Nasdaq jumped 80.87 points or 0.62 percent to 13,128.05 and S&P 500 was up by 16.99 points or 0.4 percent to 4,297.14.

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