The Dow and S&P 500 both hit new records on Monday as investors grew optimistic about the economic reopening from the pandemic.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 174.82 points, or 0.5%, to a record close of 32,953.46. Monday was its seventh positive trading session in a row, the longest winning streak since August. The S&P 500 added 0.65% to 3,968.94, a fresh all-time high and its fifth straight day of gains. The Nasdaq Composite gained 1.1% to 13,459.71.
Stocks treaded water for most of the day, until major averages popped in the final minutes of trading. Some reopening plays notched big gains, as well as some Big Tech stocks like Apple that have been weak lately. The small-cap benchmark Russell 2000 closed up 0.3%, also a new record.
American Airlines and United Airlines shares rose 7.7% and 8.3%, respectively. Air travel over the weekend hit its highest level in more than a year as the Covid-19 vaccine rolls out and Americans return to vacationing.
Apple shares closed higher by 2.5%, with most of the gain coming in afternoon trading. The gain cut its loss for the year to under 7%.
As a part of the $1.9 trillion stimulus package that became law last week, the IRS started processing $1,400 direct payments for millions of Americans, which is expected to add juice to the already recovering economy.
Stocks hit their lows of the day as Italy joined France, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands in suspending the use of the coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford over blood clot concerns. But stocks eventually overcame that worry.
“Investors will have to continually grapple with the anxiety about economic overheating and Fed tightening that has gripped markets in recent weeks,” wrote David Kostin, Goldman’s chief U.S. equity strategist, in a note. “We believe equity valuations should be able to digest 10-year yields of roughly 2% without much difficulty.”
The 10-year Treasury yield was trading around 1.6% on Monday, after hitting its highest level in more than a year on Friday. The jump in bond yields has challenged growth stocks in recent weeks and sent investors into cyclical pockets of the market.
“Bond yields remain the primary risk facing the stocks market,” Jim Paulsen, chief investment strategist at the Leuthold Group, said. “However, they are calm so far [Monday] and as the speed of their recent advance pauses, it’s allowing investors to focus more on just how low yields remain overall.”
Stocks rose last week with the Dow rising 4% and the S&P 500 gaining 2.6%. The S&P 500 and the Dow both closed at record highs Friday. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 3% last week, despite a sell-off on Friday spurred by rising rates.
Investors will be gearing up for Wednesday when the Federal Reserve will deliver its decision on interest rates. The central bank is expected to acknowledge much better growth in the economy. Bond pros are also watching to see whether Fed officials will tweak their interest rate outlook, which now does not include any rate hikes through 2023.
