NEW YORK: The Dow stock index closed above 18,000 for the first time
ever on Tuesday (Dec 23) after government data estimated third-quarter
US economic growth at a spectacular five per cent.
The blue-chip
index crossed its latest threshold within moments of the market opening
and stayed above 18,000 the rest of the session, continuing a so-called
"Santa Claus rally" that began after last week's US Federal Reserve
meeting.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished at 18,024.17,
up 64.73 points (0.36 per cent). The broad-based S&P 500 also
notched a fresh record, gaining 3.63 points (0.17 per cent) to 2,082.17,
while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 16.00 (0.33 per
cent) to 4,765.42.
At five per cent, US growth for the third
quarter was the best since 2003. The figure, described as "mind-blowing"
by one analyst, was also better than the 3.9 per cent previously
estimated by the government and the 4.3 per cent projected by analysts.
Spending
for consumption rose 3.2 per cent, the biggest jump since the end of
2013. Analysts also cited strong growth in defence spending and exports.
The
US growth figures showed "an economy firing on all cylinders for the
first time in many quarters," said Chris Low, chief economist at FTN
Financial.
However, the good cheer was offset somewhat by US
durable goods orders - an indicator of business investment - which fell
0.7 per cent in November.
Low said the durable goods orders
implies that fourth-quarter capital spending will decline, perhaps
sharply, "suggesting blockbuster growth in the third quarter will be
followed by a distinctly slower Q4."
Tuesday's record was the
Dow's 36th in 2014, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices. The latest
spate of equity records follow Wednesday's Fed meeting, at which the US
central bank kept interest rates low, gave a fairly upbeat assessment of
the economy and said it would be "patient" before raising rates.
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10 hours ago
NEW YORK: The Dow edged on Wednesday (Dec 24) to a fresh record in a holiday-shortened session, one day after topping 18,000 points for the first time ever.
ReplyDeleteThe Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 6.04 points (0.03 per cent) to 18,030.21, posting its sixth straight gain. The broad-based S&P 500 snapped a five-day winning streak, falling a scant 0.29 (0.01 per cent) to 2,081.88, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 8.05 (0.17 per cent) to 4,773.47.
US stocks have been on a tear since the Federal Reserve last week kept interest rates low and pledged a cautious approach to raising rates. Markets had stormed higher early in the day, but weakened in the last minutes of trade. Markets will be closed Thursday for the Christmas holiday.
Briefing.com said volume was light ahead of the holiday, with only 340 million shares changing hands on the New York Stock Exchange floor, compared with the average session of about 826 million.