S&P 500 Climbs, Extending August Rally
12 August 2020 - 3:34PM
Dow Jones News
By Anna Isaac
U.S. stocks jumped Wednesday, putting the S&P 500 back on
track to continue this month's rally.
The S&P 500 rose 0.9% in morning trading, pushing the
benchmark index to the cusp of a record high last set in February.
The move erased losses from Tuesday, its biggest decline in three
weeks.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Average climbed 0.8% and the
technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index rose 1.1%.
Investors are keeping a close eye on lawmakers' negotiations
over a new coronavirus-relief package for American households and
businesses. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that talks
were "at a bit of a stalemate," dimming appetite for stocks and
other risky assets on Tuesday.
"Mitch McConnell's comments yesterday implied that we might not
be able to see an agreement before Congress goes into recess," said
Edward Park, deputy chief investment officer at Brooks Macdonald.
"Markets, particularly in the last day or so, seem to be pricing in
a stimulus even as lawmakers play down the odds."
Shares of drugmaker Moderna edged up about 2% after it said
Tuesday it agreed to provide the U.S. government 100 million doses
of its experimental coronavirus vaccine in exchange for more than
$1.5 billion. Tesla shares rose 4.6% after the electric-car maker
on Tuesday said it would enact a 5-for-1 stock split.
In bond markets, the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury
note gained for a fourth day, ticking up to 0.668%, from 0.657%
Tuesday. The yield on Tuesday had reached its highest level since
early July.
Fresh inflation data showed that U.S. consumer prices increased
by 0.6% in July, more than the average expectation of 0.3%,
according to FactSet.
Gold prices wavered Wednesday, after the commodity on Tuesday
fell by the most since March. Analysts said appetite for gold has
been eroded this week by the rise in U.S. government bond yields.
The precious metal -- usually viewed as a haven asset that
investors flock to when stocks are in tumult -- has climbed this
year even as equities advanced.
"There's been a breakdown in the relationship between equities
and gold, " said Geoff Yu, senior markets strategist at BNY Mellon.
"This happens if you believe there's going to be moderate
inflation, driven by an increase in productivity from
companies."
Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, rose 1.4% to
$45.14 a barrel.
Overseas, the pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 rose 0.5%.
In the U.K., fresh data showed that the country recorded a
steeper second-quarter contraction than any other rich nation,
signaling that it has suffered the worst economic hit from
coronavirus in Europe. The British economy shrank 20.4% in the
second quarter, the country's statistics agency said Wednesday. The
British pound slipped 0.1% against the dollar and fell 0.5% against
the euro.
In Asia, the Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.6% by the close of
trading, while Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.4%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng
Index rose 1.4%.
Ben Eisen contributed to this article.
Write to Anna Isaac at anna.isaac@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
August 12, 2020 10:19 ET (14:19 GMT)
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