Stock Market Surges:
In a stunning start to the month of November, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (link), one of the most widely followed indices representing the US stock market,
closed nearly 300 points higher
on the first trading day of the month. The rally comes as a
relief
to investors who have been grappling with uncertainty surrounding the ongoing US presidential election and rising COVID-19 cases.
The DJIA, which had seen a tumultuous October with several intraday swings of more than 600 points due to link, closed at 27,610.58 points on November 2nd, marking a
gain of 1.3%
for the day. The S&P 500 and the NASDAQ Composite indices also posted solid gains, with the former closing at a record high of 3,468.18 points, up by
1.2%
.
Market observers attributed the surge to a combination of factors, including positive economic data and
optimism
about the US economy’s recovery from the pandemic. The US Labor Department reported that weekly jobless claims decreased by 44,000 to 731,000 last week, while the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) said its non-manufacturing index rose to a 16-month high of 57.8%.