Dow Jumps 150 Points As Investors Await More Coronavirus Stimulus

The market finished higher on Tuesday, building on its strong start to the month, as investors watched for updates on the next round of coronavirus stimulus from U.S. lawmakers.

 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.6%, over 150 points, on Tuesday, while the S&P 500 rose 0.4% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gained 0.4%.

 

Market sentiment initially took a hit as lawmakers remained deadlocked over a new coronavirus stimulus package: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi cited “productive” discussions on Monday, but added that both sides still have differences.

 

Democrats and Republicans have reportedly agreed on an additional $1,200 stimulus check, while they are yet to reach a solution on additional federal unemployment insurance, which expired last week.

 

Shares of Microsoft fell nearly 2% after rallying more than 5.5% on Monday: The company recently confirmed that it is holding talks to acquire Chinese-owned social media app TikTok, which President Donald Trump has threatened to ban in the U.S. if it’s not bought by September.

 

Chinese state media, for their part, responded with threats of possible retaliation on Tuesday, calling the U.S. a “rogue country” and the potential sale of TikTok to Microsoft “open robbery.”

 

Meanwhile, shares of Ford jumped over 2% after the company announced that CEO Jim Hackett will retire in October and be replaced by COO Jim Farley, a move which comes in the middle of an $11 billion restructuring project.

 

Kodak is reportedly under investigation by the SEC about getting awarded a $765 million loan from the U.S. government to start producing drug ingredients, with its stock skyrocketing ahead of the announcement last week.