Wall Street Begins H2 with More Record-Breaking

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) finished higher on Thursday, opening July and the second half of the year with another record-breaking performance, with Wall Street investors optimistic about the upcoming jobs report.

Recent economic data showed progress on the road to recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, with the drop in initial jobless claims improving the outlook for the jobs market, after a better than expected ADP report a day earlier.

In addition, energy stocks rose on the back of another surge in crude oil prices, with anticipation for the outcomes of the OPEC+ policy meeting, which is set to identify the output policy for the coming months.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 130 points, or 0.4%, to close at 34,633

For the sixth day in a row, the S&P 500 recorded another record closing high, for the 35th time this year, gaining 22.44 points, or 0.52%, and closing at 4,139.94 points.

The Nasdaq Composite index also rose by 0.1% and finished at 14,522.38 points, further nearing its all-time high.