US markets end higher on Monday

19 Dec 2023 Evaluate

The US markets ended higher on Monday. Markets continued to benefit from recent upward momentum, which has propelled the Dow to new record highs. The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 have also reached their best levels in nearly two years. However, gains were limited several Fed officials have subsequently pushed back on investor hopes that rate cuts by the central bank are imminent. Later this week, the Commerce Department is due to release its report on personal income and spending in the month of November, which includes readings on inflation said to be preferred by the Fed. On the sectoral front, steel stocks saw substantial strength on the day, resulting in a 3.2 percent spike the NYSE Arca Steel Index. U.S. Steel (X) led the sector higher, skyrocketing by 26.1 percent after announcing an agreement to be acquired by Japan's Nippon Steel for $55.00 per share in cash.

Significant strength also emerged among retail stocks, as reflected by the 1.6 percent gain posted by the Dow Jones U.S. Retail Index. The index reached its best closing level in well over a year. Oil producer and pharmaceutical stocks also saw strength on the day, while housing and banking stocks moved to the downside. On the sectoral front, the National Association of Home Builders released a report showing homebuilder sentiment in the U.S. rebounded in December after falling for four consecutive months. The report said the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index climbed to 37 in December after falling to an eleven-month low of 34 in November. Street had expected the index to rise to 36.

Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.86 points to 37,306.02, Nasdaq surged 91.27 points or 0.62 percent to 14,905.19 and S&P 500 was down by 21.37 points 0.45 percent to 4,740.56.


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