- US stocks moved higher on Tuesday as investors sized up encouraging global economic data.
- China’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to accelerate — the country reported that retail sales rose by 0.5% in August.
- China’s unemployment rate continued to recover as well, falling to 5.6% in August from 5.7% in July.
- Investors also reacted to a surprise upgrade to economic forecasts in Germany.
- Oil traded higher despite a lowered OPEC forecast for the commodity market’s demand recovery. West Texas Intermediate crude rose as much as 2%, to $38.02 per barrel.
- Watch major indexes update live here.
US stocks climbed on Tuesday as investors sized up encouraging global economic data.
China’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to accelerate, according to economic data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday.
For the first time this year, retail sales in the second-largest economy rose, jumping by 0.5% in August compared with last year. The unemployment rate fell to 5.6% in August from 5.7% in July. Industrial activity in China jumped by 5.6% compared with a year ago, marking the fifth consecutive month of increases in the data set.
In addition, German economic forecasts received a surprise boost, with a gauge of forward six-month activity coming in above all estimates.
Here’s where US indexes stood shortly after the 9:30 a.m. ET market open on Tuesday:
- S&P 500: 3,419.05, up 1%
- Dow Jones industrial average: 28,217.88, up 0.8% (225 points)
- Nasdaq composite: 11,219.51, up 1.5%
Technology investors will likely have their eyes glued to Apple's product event on Tuesday afternoon, while macro investors will be eagerly anticipating Wednesday's Federal Reserve policy meeting. The Fed is expected to remain dovish and leave rates unchanged.
Social Capital CEO Chamath Palihapitiya extended Monday's merger mania with a confirmed deal for Opendoor. The property-technology company is set to merge with Social Capital Hedosophia II in a deal that values Opendoor at $4.8 billion.
Meanwhile, Palantir's prospectus filing with the Securities and Exchange Committee suggested a market valuation of $20 billion as it prepares a direct listing, sidestepping the traditional IPO process.
Spot gold gained as much as 0.8%, to $1,972.30 per ounce, continuing to trade just below $2,000. The US dollar weakened and Treasury yields fell slightly.
Oil traded mostly higher despite a lowered OPEC forecast for demand in the commodity market. West Texas Intermediate crude climbed as much as 2%, to $38.02 per barrel. Brent crude, oil's international benchmark, rose 1.8%, to $40.32 per barrel, at intraday highs.