US markets rose after lawmakers voted to lift debt ceiling

24 Jan 2013 Evaluate

The US markets rose on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 index gaining for a sixth consecutive session, as lawmakers voted to extend the nation’s borrowing limit. The street was on optimistic note from early trade after Google and IBM reported better than expected results.  However, Apple Inc. had its slowest profit growth since 2003 and weakest sales increase in 14 quarters amid rising costs and accelerating competition. Meanwhile, the US House approved a suspension of the debt ceiling until May 19, allowing the government to continue to pay its bills and temporarily putting off a bigger fight over taxes and spending. The Republican-controlled chamber passed the bill by a 285-144 margin along partisan lines. Most Democrats voted nay, insisting upon a longer-term increase in the debt limit. Harry Reid, majority leader of the Democratic-led Senate, stated that the upper chamber will pass the short-term extension as soon as possible. The Obama administration has already stated that it will sign the bill. The May 19 extension will temporarily ease the anxieties of businesses and investors and give the two parties more time to seek a long-term deal that has proven elusive.

Separately, International Monetary Fund lowered its global growth forecast to 3.5% from the 3.6% estimate in October in 2013. The IMF also estimated world economic growth to recover to 4.1% if the euro zone rebounds. The IMF estimated world economy to expand at 3.2% in 2012. On the economy front, US house prices rose a seasonally adjusted 0.6% in November, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency's monthly house-price index released. Compared with the same period in the prior year, prices are up 5.6%, according to the index.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 67.12 points or 0.49 percent to 13,779.30, the Nasdaq added 10.49 points or 0.33 percent to 3,153.67 and the S&P 500 closed higher by 2.25 points or 0.15 percent to 1,494.81.

Indian ADRs closed mixed on Wednesday, Infosys was up by 1.01%, ICICI Bank was up 0.73% and Tata Communication was up 0.07%. On the other hand, Tata Motors was down 2.96% and Dr. Reddy’s Lab was down 0.16%.

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