US stocks saw a sharp increase on Thursday, with the S&P 500 gaining 68.36 points or 1.8% to reach a closing high of 3,960.28. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 371.98 points, or 1.2%, to close at 32,246.55. Additionally, the Nasdaq Composite climbed 283.22 points, or 2.5%, to close at 11,717.28. These figures follow the news that several big banks have deposited a massive $30 billion with troubled lender First Republic Bank, helping to mitigate losses.
In particular, some big names helped propel the markets forward. The technology sector, especially companies like Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft, all climbed by more than 2%. Additionally, healthcare, industrial, and financial sectors all enjoyed gains of around 1.4% to 2.4%. However, the energy sector saw a slight decrease of 0.1%.
While the US economy has been steadily recovering from the impact of COVID-19, investors are now beginning to focus more intently on recent inflation concerns. This focus is especially relevant as the Federal Reserve has stated plans to continue to keep interest rates low until the economy is fully recovered from the impact of COVID-19.
Additionally, the ongoing US vaccination campaign has offered hope that the economy can continue to bounce back. Despite initial concerns about vaccine supplies and distribution, the US has made significant strides in recent weeks, with almost 100 million doses given so far.
However, investors have also noted geopolitical risks around rising tensions between the US and China, which could have a bearing on stock markets in the short-term. The Biden administration has so far indicated that they will take a more firm stance with regards to China, in comparison to the Trump administration.
Meanwhile, oil prices have also been rising due to increased demand and production cuts by OPEC+ countries. Brent crude oil climbed 1.4% to reach $64.86 a barrel, while US crude oil rose 2.2% to close at $61.45 a barrel. Higher oil prices could potentially affect industries such as airlines and transportation, as well as the average consumer’s budget.
In terms of what to expect in the future, analysts anticipate that the stock market could continue to be influenced by inflation concerns, as well as the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on consumer behavior and the overall health of the economy. Additionally, geopolitical risks could also continue to have an impact on the stock market, especially as the Biden administration moves forward with their policies regarding China.
Investors should also continue to monitor the progress of the vaccination campaign, as well as distribution plans for the new round of stimulus funding. Overall, while the US economy is showing signs of recovery, there are still plenty of uncertainties that could impact the stock market in the near future.
