Closing Stock Market SummaryThe S&P 500 rose 1.8% on Monday in a risk-on trade, as investors received positive news on President Trump's health, stimulus talks, and economic data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (+1.7%) kept pace with the benchmark index, but the advantage today belonged to the Nasdaq Composite (+2.3%) and Russell 2000 (+2.8%).
Briefly, President Trump said he would leave the hospital tonight after responding well to several coronavirus treatments, including one from Regeneron (REGN 605.08, +40.28, +7.1%); House Speaker Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin reportedly made progress on relief talks; and the ISM Non-Manufacturing Index for September increased to 57.8% (Briefing.com consensus 55.6%) from 56.9% in August.
The news cycle fueled a growth mindset that lifted all 11 S&P 500 sectors into positive territory, boosted small-cap stocks, buoyed crude prices ($39.29/bbl, +2.24, +6.1%) by 6%, and steepened the U.S. Treasury yield curve amid selling in longer-dated maturities.
The energy (+2.9%), information technology (+2.3%), and health care (+2.1%) sectors claimed today's leadership positions with gains over 2.0%. The real estate sector underperformed with a 0.6% gain, but the rate-sensitive space had traded lower for most of the session amid the higher Treasury yields.
The 2-yr yield increased one basis point to 0.14%, while the 10-yr yield rose six basis points to 0.76% -- its highest closing level since June. The U.S. Dollar Index fell 0.4% to 93.46.
Another positive factor for trading sentiment was the S&P 500 clearing its 50-day moving average (3365) at the open and never looking back the rest of the session. The benchmark index also topped the 3400 level for the first time since mid-September.
In corporate news, Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY 59.20, +0.48, +0.8%) agreed to acquire MyoKardia (MYOK 220.34, +80.74, +57.8%) for approximately $13 billion, or $225.00/share, in cash.
Reviewing Monday's economic data:
- The ISM Non-Manufacturing Index for September increased to 57.8% (consensus 55.6%) from 56.9% in August. Notably, the September index eclipsed the 57.3% reading registered in February.
- The key takeaway from the report is that it had all the right undertones to promote recovery views: new orders increased, the backlog of orders decreased, supplier deliveries slowed, prices were up, albeit at a slower pace, and employment levels grew following six months of contraction.
- The Markit Services PMI for September increased to 54.6 from 55.0 in August.
Looking ahead, investors will receive the Trade Balance report for August and the JOLTS - Job Openings report for August on Tuesday.
- Nasdaq Composite +26.3% YTD
- S&P 500 +5.5% YTD
- Dow Jones Industrial Average -1.4% YTD
- Russell 2000 -5.2% YTD