US markets end higher on Thursday

24 Jan 2025 Evaluate

The US markets ended higher on Thursday, extending the strong upward move seen over the past several sessions. Optimism about a more pro-business administration under new President Donald Trump has helped offset concerns about the outlook for interest rates. Potentially adding to the positive sentiment, Trump said that he will demand that interest rates drop immediately. Trump also said he would ask Saudi Arabia and other members of OPEC to lower oil prices, contributing to a downturn by the price of crude oil. On the sectoral front, Biotechnology stocks showed a strong move to the upside as the day progressed, driving the NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index up by 1.8 percent to its best closing level in almost four years.

Considerable strength also emerged among networking stocks, as reflected by the 1.4 percent gain posted by the NYSE Arca Networking Index. The index reached a new record closing high. Healthcare, pharmaceutical and oil producer stocks also saw notable strength, while airline stocks came under pressure amid disappointing guidance from American Airlines (AAL). On the economic data front, after reporting a rebound by first-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits in the previous week, the Labor Department released a report showing initial jobless claims saw further upside in the week ended January 18th. The Labor Department said initial jobless claims rose to 223,000, an increase of 6,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 217,000. Street had expected jobless claims to inch up to 220,000. The report said the less volatile four-week moving average also crept up to 213,500, an increase of 750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 212,750.

Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 408.34 points or 0.92 percent to 44,565.07, Nasdaq rose 44.34 points or 0.22 percent to 20,053.68 and S&P 500 was up by 32.34 points or 0.53 percent to 6,118.71.


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