Dow Jones Industrial Average index hit a record intraday high on Thursday, as investors believe that the President-elect Donald Trump will move away from austerity policies. At the same time, Nasdaq fell amid falling heavyweights Apple and Amazon, as investors poured money into other sectors that may benefit from the victory of Donald Trump on the US elections.
In addition, as reported by the Ministry of Labour, the number of Americans who applied for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, underscoring the resilience of the labor market. Primary applications for state unemployment benefits fell by 11,000 and reached a seasonally adjusted 254,000 for the week ended November 5. It was the 88th week in a row, when the primary circulation remained below 300,000 - the threshold associated with a healthy labor market. This is the longest period since 1970. Economists forecast that initial applications for benefits will amount to 260,000 unemployment.
Oil prices fell about 1.5 percent, as markets have recovered from the shock of winning Trump in the elections, and again focused on the global oversupply. Analysts say that the oil market is still facing a glut that has kept prices under pressure for most of the past two years. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meeting in Vienna on November 30 to hold talks on the reduction of oil production. Perhaps OPEC will try to establish cooperation with countries that are not OPEC members, but there are doubts whether they can reach an agreement.
Most DOW components of the index closed in positive territory (19 of 30). More rest up shares JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM, + 4.67%). Outsider were shares of The Procter & Gamble Company (PG, -3.75%).
Sector S & P Index showed mixed trends. The leader turned out to be the industrial goods sector (+ 2.0%). Most consumer goods sector fell (-2.9%).
At the close:
Dow + 1.18% 18,808.29 +218.60
Nasdaq -0.80% 5,208.80 -42.27
S & P + 0.20% 2,167.51 +4.25