Main indices recorded their third consecutive day of gains
U.S. stocks advanced sharply on Thursday, 18 June 2015 sending the Nasdaq Composite while the main indexes recorded their third consecutive day of gains. Equity indices rallied throughout the morning after the combination of yesterday's FOMC policy statement and today's economic data set the tone for interest rates to remain at their current levels for longer.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 180.10 points, or 1%, to 18,115. The Nasdaq Composite gained 68.07 points, or 1.3% to 5,132.95. The S&P 500 rose 20.80 points, or 1%, to 2,121.24, closing less than 10 points below its all-time closing high.
Stocks extended their gains in the early afternoon once Germany's Die Zeit reported that Greece is on track to receive an extension until the end of the year without the involvement of the International Monetary Fund. However, that report was struck down promptly as German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she is only aware of the proposal that was brought forth by the creditors.
Some markets, including gold, saw a somewhat delayed reaction to the conclusion of the Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting Wednesday afternoon and the following press conference from Fed Chair Janet Yellen. While the Fed did not raise U.S. interest rates at this meeting and said the U.S. economy continues to improve, Yellen did signal in her press briefing that the Fed will remain highly accommodative even when it does raise interest rateslikely later this year.
European stock markets were pressured again Thursday amid increasing worries about Greece defaulting on its debt obligations to the European Union and International Monetary Fund. Greece-EU debt negotiations broke down last Sunday. Greece's central bank on Wednesday warned of an uncontrollable crisis if the debt talks ultimately fail.
More From This Section
To that point, the CPI report for May (+0.4%; Briefing.com consensus 0.5%) was cooler than expected while the remaining data points released today indicated improving economic conditions.
Stocks continued to trade higher following a spate of U.S. economic data on Thursday. The May consumer-price index saw its biggest gain in more than two years, but was still lower than economists had expected. Weekly jobless claims fell to 267,000, holding ground near a 15-year low.
Shares of Oracle slumped 8.6% after the software company late Wednesday reported a drop in fourth-quarter earnings. Fitbit jumped 51% to $30.14 as it began trading for the first time on the NYSE on Thursday.
Treasuries surrendered their overnight gains and continued their retreat into the afternoon, sending the benchmark 10-yr yield higher by three basis points to 2.35%.
Today's trading volume surpassed recent totals as more than 830 million shares changed hands at the NYSE floor.
Bullion prices ended substantially higher on Thursday, 18 June 2015. Gold futures rallied past $1,200 an ounce to settle at their highest level in nearly a month as the Federal Reserve signaled it will raise interest rates at a gradual pace, pressuring the U.S. dollar.
Gold for August delivery leapt $25.20, or 2.1%, to settle at $1,202 an ounce on Comex. July Comex silver was last up $0.218 at $16.16 an ounce.
Crude Oil futures climbed on Thursday, 18 June 2015 with U.S. benchmark prices settling at their highest in a week, buoyed by a weaker U.S. dollar and a seventh straight week of falling U.S. crude inventories.
July crude tacked on 53 cents, or 0.9%, to settle at $60.45 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. That was the highest settlement for a most-active contract since June 11.
The U.S. ICE dollar index fell after the Federal Reserve signaled Wednesday it will go slow with any interest-rate increases. As oil is priced in dollars, it becomes cheaper for holders of other currencies as the greenback weakens.
There is no economic data on tomorrow's schedule.
Powered by Capital Market - Live News