US markets end higher on Wednesday

28 Mar 2024 Evaluate

The US markets ended higher on Wednesday as traders once again looked to pick up stocks at somewhat reduced levels. A decrease by treasury yields have also contributed to the strength in the markets amid ongoing optimism about the outlook for interest rates following the Federal Reserve's monetary policy announcement last week. On the sectoral front, Gold stocks showed a substantial move to the upside on the day, resulting in a 3.7 percent surge by the NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index. With the gain, the index reached a nearly three-month closing high. The rally by gold stocks came amid an increase by the price of the precious metal, with gold for June delivery climbing $13.50 to $2,212.70 an ounce. 

Interest rate-sensitive utilities and commercial real estate stocks also saw considerable strength, driving the Dow Jones Utility Average and the Dow Jones U.S. Real Estate Index up by 2.7 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively. Airline, banking and steel stocks also showed strong moves to the upside as the day progressed, moving higher along with most of the other major sectors. Besides, traders were eyeing on economic data such as weekly jobless claims, Chicago business activity and pending home sales are due on Thursday. A report on personal income and spending that includes readings on inflation to be preferred by the Federal Reserve is also due to be released while the markets are closed on Good Friday.

Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 477.75 points or 1.22 percent to 39,760.08, Nasdaq surged 83.82 points or 0.51 percent to 16,399.52 and S&P 500 was up by 44.91 points or 0.86 percent to 5,248.49. 


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