U.S. Stocks Rise With Virus Spread Tempering Gains: Markets Wrap

All you need to know about global markets today.

Sarah Ponczek

24 Jun 2020, 04:22 AM IST

U.S. Stocks Rise With Virus Spread Tempering Gains: Markets Wrap

A Wall Street sign is displayed in front of New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S. (Photographer: Mark Kauzlarich/Bloomberg)

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. stocks rose for a second day, but faded into the close as concern mounted that a spike in virus cases in some states could curtail economic activity. Gold rallied to its best level since 2012.

The S&P 500 jumped as much as 1.2% before paring the gain by two-thirds on reports that spiking cases in several hotspots in the South and Southwest threatened to derail plans to ramp up reopening. The Nasdaq Composite hit an all-time high, with investors keying on signs of continued economic growth and the idea that any setback will be met with increased government spending and Federal Reserve moves.

Stimulus “puts the bottom on bad news,” said Nela Richardson, an investment strategist at Edward Jones. “Bad news isn’t so bad if we think that that means more stimulus. The markets are responding also to the quick action, quickest in any recession going back to the Great Depression, of the Federal government and monetary authorities, not just in the United States, but around the world.”

Apple, Amazon and Facebook jumped at least 2%. Mohawk Industries, which provides home flooring, Darden Restaurants and Live Nation were among leaders in the S&P 500.

Treasuries were little changed, with the 10-year yielding around 0.71%, while the dollar dropped for a second day. Equities rose in Europe and in Asia. Gold pushed to its highest level since 2012, and oil topped $41 a barrel in New York.

Carmakers and banks led a broad advance in the Stoxx Europe 600 index after positive economic data in the euro area. The euro strengthened and yields ticked higher on core European bonds.

Investors are betting that trillions of dollars in stimulus by central banks and governments around the globe will shield economies from a resurgence in virus breakouts. PMIs for June, showed business activity in the world’s largest economy continuing a rebound that started in May.

While euro-area PMI gauges earlier fueled a risk-on mood, they also underlined some of the pressures that a long and slow recovery would impose on companies struggling with weak demand.

Anthony Fauci, the U.S.’s top infectious-disease doctor, warned Tuesday that the coronavirus isn’t taking a summer break, judging from its persistent spread in the U.S. Sun Belt. A German state locked down a municipality where 1,553 workers tested positive at a single meat factory.

Here are some key events coming up:

The IMF will release new 2020 growth projections on Wednesday.
U.S. jobless claims, durable goods and GDP data are due Thursday.
A rebalance of Russell indexes is due on Friday.

These are the main moves in markets:

Stocks

The S&P 500 Index rose 0.4% as of 4 p.m. New York time.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.5% to 26,194.

The Nasdaq Composite Index gained 0.8%, hitting the highest on record with its eighth consecutive advance and the largest advance in a week.

Currencies

The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index fell 0.3% to the lowest in almost two weeks.

The euro climbed 0.4% to $1.1304, the strongest in more than a week.

The Japanese yen appreciated 0.4% to 106.54 per dollar, the strongest in almost seven weeks on the biggest increase in almost two weeks.

Bonds

The yield on 10-year Treasuries rose less than one basis point to 0.71%.
The two-year yield slipped to 0.19%

Britain’s 10-year yield rose two basis points to 0.211%.

Germany’s 10-year yield climbed three basis points to -0.41%.

Commodities

West Texas Intermediate crude fell 1.2% to $40.24 a barrel.

Gold futures strengthened 1.1% to $1,785 an ounce, the highest in almost eight years.