US: Dow, Nasdaq hit record highs as focus turns to Biden's stimulus plan

[NEW YORK] The Dow and the Nasdaq hit record highs on Thursday in anticipation of President-elect Joe Biden's pandemic aid proposal to jump-start a struggling economy after data highlighted weakening labour market conditions.

At 10.44 am ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 116.19 points, or 0.38 per cent , to 31,178.17, the S&P 500 gained 11.29 points, or 0.30 per cent, to 3,821.13 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 81.07 points, or 0.62 per cent, to 13,210.89.

The Labor Department's weekly jobless report showed the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits increased more than expected last week, underscoring the impact of a resurgence in Covid-19 infections.

However, the S&P 500 rose for the seventh time in nine sessions this year as investors count on Mr Biden to unveil a stimulus plan on Thursday evening that could exceed $1.5 trillion.

"For a while investors have been looking forward to what the picture might be like once the vaccine is fully distributed and the worst parts of the pandemic over," said Rick Meckler, partner, Cherry Lane Investments, a family investment office in New Vernon, New Jersey.

"There is a little bit of a fear of 'sell on the news' that when (stimulus) is actually introduced, it won't be as large as some people like or it's possible that market will start to look at how it's going to be paid for." Among individual stocks, Delta Air Lines gained about 5 per cent as chief executive Ed Bastian forecast 2021 to be "the year of recovery" after the coronavirus pandemic prompted its first annual loss in 11 years.

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The S&P 1500 airlines index added 3.4 per cent.

Five of the 11 major S&P sectors rose in early trading with economy-linked energy, financial and industrials gaining the most.

The domestically-focused small-cap Russell 2000 also hit an all-time high.

Analysts have said near-term political uncertainties in Washington, a relentless rise in coronavirus cases and a slower than expected rollout of vaccines could impede gains for equities in the short-term.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump became the first president in US history to be impeached twice when the House voted 232-197 on Wednesday to charge him with inciting riots at the Capitol. The impeachment proceedings threaten to hang over the beginning of Mr Biden's term.

REUTERS