US markets end marginally higher on Monday

01 Aug 2023 Evaluate

The US markets eked out small gains as July came to a close on Monday, booking a fifth consecutive monthly gain for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite amid optimism over corporate earnings and a resilient economy. However, traders seemed reluctant to make significant moves as they await the release of key economic data in the coming days, including the closely watched monthly jobs report on Friday. Reports on initial jobless claims, factory orders and manufacturing and service sector activity could also impact trading. With the Federal Reserve indicating future interest rate decisions, upcoming economic data may attract more attention than usual. On the sectoral front, energy stocks saw considerable strength, however, with a sharp increase by the price of crude oil contributing to the strength in the sector.

On the economic data front, Chicago-area business activity contracted at a slightly slower rate in the month of July, according to a report released by MNI Indicators on Monday. MNI Indicators said its Chicago business barometer inched up to 42.8 in July from 41.5 in June, although a reading below 50 still indicates a contraction. Street had expected the index to rise to 43.0. The uptick by the Chicago business barometer partly reflected increases by the new orders and production indices. While the new orders index climbed by 3.4 points, MNI Indicators said the increase masked the fact that the proportion of respondents reporting an increase in new orders in June was actually the lowest of the year. The production index also rose by 2.5 points or 45.1. The proportion of respondents citing higher production was the same level as in June but fewer noted reduced production.

Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 100.24 points or 0.28 percent to 35,559.53, Nasdaq added 29.37 points or 0.21 percent to 14,346.02 and S&P 500 was up by 6.73 points or 0.15 percent to 4,588.96.
 


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