TOPLINE
Stocks jumped on Tuesday thanks to a record surge in retail sales last month, additional support from the Federal Reserve and hopes for more government stimulus.
Retail sales jumped by a record 17.7% in May.
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KEY FACTS
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 2%, over 500 points, on Tuesday, while the S&P 500 rose 1.9% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gained 1.8%.
Stocks continued to move higher, building on gains from Monday, after a record surge in retail sales last month. Retail sales jumped 17.7% in May, better than the expected 7.7%, as consumers getting out of coronavirus lockdowns began shopping again.
Shares of companies that would benefit from the economy reopening—including airlines, retailers and cruise operators—jumped again on Tuesday.
Investors also cheered news of positive trial results for a potential coronavirus treatment, dexamethasone, which reduced deaths in hospitalized patients by up to one third.
Stocks fell by over 2% early on Monday, but erased losses and turned positive after the Federal Reserve announced that it would buy individual corporate bonds, taking yet another step to backstop financial markets and reassure investors.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell told the Senate banking committee on Tuesday that there is still “significant uncertainty” about an economic recovery, while adding that the Fed will let the market dictate the pace of its corporate bond purchases.
The market also got a boost after a report from Bloomberg on Monday said that the Trump Administration is working on a $1 trillion infrastructure proposal.
Crucial quote
“This is yet another sign the Fed is going to do everything under their power to help liquidity,” says Ryan Detrick, senior market strategist for LPL Financial, about the Fed’s announcement on Monday. “Worries over a second wave? No worries—the Fed is here.”
Key background
Stocks continue to rebound from last Thursday’s massive sell-off, which was the Dow and S&P’s worst single-day losses since the coronavirus market plunge in March. Despite rallying on Friday, the market still posted its biggest weekly drop since March 20, when all the major indexes dropped at least 12% amid widespread economic shutdowns during the pandemic. Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell reiterated at his press conference on Wednesday that while “there is great uncertainty about the future,” the Central Bank is strongly committed to doing “whatever we can, for as long as it takes” to help support the economy.
Further reading
Four Takeaways From Fed Chair Powell’s Testimony Investors Should Know (Forbes)
Stocks End Worst Week Since March Despite Dow Rallying Almost 500 Points (Forbes)
Stock Market Rout: Here’s What Caused The Worst Sell-Off Since March (Forbes)
Dow Falls 1,800 Points Amid Fears Over A Second Wave Of Coronavirus Cases (Forbes)
Federal Reserve Will Keep Interest Rates Near Zero Until 2022 (Forbes)
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