US markets settle in green on Friday

24 Dec 2022 Evaluate

The US markets ended higher on Friday after revised data from the University of Michigan showed one-year inflation expectations fell by more previously estimated in the month of December. The report showed one-year inflation expectations in December were downwardly revised to 4.4 percent from 4.6 percent. One-year inflation expectations were at the lowest level in 18 months, down sharply from 4.9 percent in November. Five-year inflation expectations in December were also downwardly revised to 2.9 percent from 3.0 percent, which was unchanged from November. Further, some support also came in as new home sales in the U.S. unexpectedly showed a sharp increase for the second consecutive month in November, according to a report released by the Commerce Department. The report said new home sales surged by 5.8 percent to an annual rate of 640,000 in November after soaring by 8.2 percent to a revised rate of 605,000 in October.

Street had expected new home sales to tumble by 5.1 percent to an annual rate of 600,000 from the 632,000 originally reported for the previous month. Despite another sharp increase, new home sales in November were down by 15.3 percent compared to the same month a year ago.  On the sectoral front, oil-related stocks saw substantial strength on the day as the price of crude oil for February delivery surged $2.07 to $79.56 a barrel. Reflecting the strength in the energy sector, the Philadelphia Oil Service Index soared by 4.0 percent and the NYSE Arca Oil Index spiked by 2.6 percent. Natural gas stocks also benefitted from a sharp increase by the price of the commodity, with the NYSE Arca Natural Gas Index jumping by 2.6 percent.

Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 176.44 points or 0.53 percent to 33,203.93, Nasdaq gained 21.74 points or 0.21 percent to 10,497.86 and S&P 500 was up by 22.43 points or 0.59 percent to 3,844.82.

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