US markets gain on encouraging economic data

17 Dec 2013 Evaluate

The US markets climbed higher on Monday as a flurry of economic data indicated solid improvements in business activity across the country. Also with the Federal Reserve’s final meeting of the year wrapping up on Wednesday, investors are waiting to see if the central bank will begin to cut back, or taper, its massive stimulus program. An index of manufacturing conditions in the New York area recovered slightly in December after a surprise negative reading in the prior month. But the improvement was below expectations and suggested that factory activity was treading water in the region. The Empire State’s general business conditions index rose to 1.0 in December from negative 2.2 in November. Besides, US productivity was revised up to 3.0% increase in the third quarter from an initial read of 1.9%, the Labor Department stated. Output of goods and services was upped to a 4.7% increase from 3.7%, while hours worked was unchanged at a 1.7% rise. Over the past year overall US productivity - the key to a rising standard of living - has risen a scant 0.3%.

Moreover, industrial production in November saw the biggest one-month percentage gain in a year to reach a record high, though the monthly advance was led by utilities output after an unusually cold month. The industrial production climbed 1.1% in November, the biggest percentage rise since November 2012, as utilities output jumped 3.9%. Capacity utilization rose to 79% from an upwardly revised 78.2% in October.

Meanwhile, the White House stated that President Barack Obama won’t negotiate over raising the US debt ceiling, after House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan signaled over the weekend that Republicans will make demands for extending it. Back in October, Congress agreed to suspend the debt limit until February 7, 2014. The debt limit was extended in the October agreement that also reopened the government after a 16-day shutdown.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 129.21 points or 0.82 percent to 15,884.57, the S&P 500 was up 11.22 points or 0.63 percent to 1,786.54, while Nasdaq added 28.54 points or 0.71 percent to 4,029.52.

Indian ADRs closed in green on Monday; Infosys was up 1.29%, ICICI Bank was up 0.98%, Dr. Reddy’s Lab was up 0.95%, HDFC Bank was up 0.51% and Tata Motors was up by 0.25%.   

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