US markets end marginally higher on Tuesday

21 Dec 2022 Evaluate

The US markets ended marginally higher on Tuesday as some traders looked to pick up stocks at relatively reduced levels following recent weakness. However, buying interest remained somewhat subdued with some traders reluctant to get back into the markets amid lingering concerns the Federal Reserve's aggressive interest rate hikes will tip the economy into a recession. On Friday, the Commerce Department is due to release its report on personal income and spending, which includes a reading on inflation said to be preferred by the Fed. With Fed Chair Jerome Powell saying the central bank will require substantially more evidence inflation is on a sustained downward trend before halting its rate hikes, traders are likely to keep a close eye on the inflation reading. On the sectoral front, gold stocks moved sharply higher on the day, resulting in a 4.6 percent spike by the NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index. The rally by gold stocks came amid a notable increase by the price of the precious metal, with gold for February delivery jumping $27.70 to $1,825.40 an ounce.

An increase by the price of crude oil also contributed to considerable strength among oil service stocks, driving the Philadelphia Oil Service Index up by 3.1. On the economic data front, the Commerce Department released a report showing a decrease in new residential construction in the U.S. in the month of November. The report said housing starts fell by 0.5 percent to an annual rate of 1.427 million in November after tumbling by 2.1 percent to a revised rate of 1.434 million in October. Street had expected housing starts to decline by 0.7 percent to a rate of 1.415 million from the 1.425 million originally reported for the previous month. The Commerce Department also said building permits plunged by 11.2 percent to an annual rate of 1.342 million in November after slumping by 3.3 percent to a revised rate of 1.512 million in October.

Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 92.2 points or 0.28 percent to 32,849.74, Nasdaq added 1.08 points or 0.01 percent to 10,547.11 and S&P 500 was up by 3.96 points or 0.1 percent to 3,821.62.

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