US markets end lackluster session in green on Monday

16 May 2023 Evaluate

The US markets ended lackluster session in green on Monday, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq reaching its best closing level in well over eight months, while the Dow snapped a five-session losing streak. Wall Street got some support amid optimism about an eventual agreement on raising the U.S. debt following comments from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Yellen said the administration and congressional Republicans are making progress in their negotiations over federal spending and raising the debt limit. President Joe Biden also expressed optimism about the talks in remarks to reporters over the weekend. Though, there was some cautiousness ahead to the release of some key economic data in the coming days. Remarks by Federal Reserve officials are also likely to remain on investors’ radar this week, with Fed Chair Jerome Powell due to participate in a Perspectives on Monetary Policy panel before the Thomas Laubach Research Conference on Friday.

Meanwhile, the New York Fed released a report showing a substantial downturn in regional manufacturing activity in the month of May. The report said the general business conditions index plunged to a negative 31.8 in May from a positive 10.8 in April, with a negative reading indicating a contraction. Street had expected the index to drop to a negative 2.5. On the sectoral front, Semiconductor stocks moved sharply higher over the course of the session, resulting in a 2.7 surge by the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index. Substantial strength also emerged among banking stocks, as reflected by the 2.6 percent jump by the KBW Bank Index. Computer hardware stocks also showed a strong move to the upside on the day, driving the NYSE Arca Computer Hardware Index up by 2.5 percent. Biotechnology, airline and steel stocks also saw notable strength, while considerable weakness was visible among utilities stocks.

Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 47.98 points or 0.14 percent to 33,348.60, Nasdaq added 80.47 points or 0.66 percent to 12,365.21 and S&P 500 was up by 12.20 points or 0.30 percent to 4,136.28.


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