Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq end at records ahead of July 4 holiday

Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq end at records ahead of July 4 holiday

Wall Street stocks surge to records in a holiday-shortened session as a plethora of mixed US economic data appears to boost the odds of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut.

Monitors display stock market information as pedestrians are reflected in a window at the Nasdaq MarketSite in the Times Square area of New York. (Bloomberg)
NEW YORK:
Wall Street stocks surged to records on Wednesday in a holiday-shortened session as a plethora of mixed US economic data appeared to boost the odds of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut.

All three major indices shot to records, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average ending at 26,966.60, up 0.7%.

The S&P 500 gained 0.8% to 2,995.82, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 0.8% to 8,170.23.

Markets closed early in anticipation of Thursday’s Independence Day holiday and will reopen on Friday. Such holiday sessions typically see lower trading volumes, which can magnify market moves.

The records came as the yield on the 10-year US Treasury note sagged below 2%, the latest retreat in the wake of commentary from Fed Chair Jerome Powell and other Fed officials that has opened the door to an interest rate cut as soon as this month.

Market expectations of a rate cut have grown in part due to weakening economic data that has been attributed in part to myriad trade conflicts.

Data on Wednesday showed US companies hired fewer employees than expected in June, while the US trade deficit hit a five-month high as imports from Mexico soared amid trade uncertainty.

US jobless claims fell modestly, while the crucial services sector expanded, but grew at the weakest pace in nearly two years as business activity, hiring and new orders all declined.

“Today’s economic news was negative, but the market is focused on the fact that the Fed will take a dovish stance at its next meeting,” said Spartan Capital’s Peter Cardillo.

A key report will come Friday when the Labor Department releases estimates for June job growth. Analysts expect the US added 160,000 jobs and that unemployment held steady at 3.6%.

Among individual companies, Tesla jumped 4.6% after reporting that it delivered 95,200 vehicles in the second quarter, a record that was seen easing pressure on chief executive Elon Musk amid worries over the electric car maker’s prospects.

Symantec surged 13.4% after Bloomberg reported that the cybersecurity company is in advanced talks to be acquired by Broadcom. Broadcom dropped 3.5%.

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