Economy
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S&P hits 1,400 as ECB-inspired rally persists
Ryan Vlastelica, Reuters – Stocks rose for a third straight day on Tuesday, pushing the S&P above 1,400 for the first time since early May, on growing optimism the European Central Bank would act soon to contain the euro zone’s debt crisis.
Trading was light, which could distort the level of optimism investors truly have that Europe will follow through with adequate measures. ECB President Mario Draghi boosted hopes last week when he spoke of restoring calm to the euro zone’s troubled bond markets.
Since then, good news from Greece and declines in borrowing costs for Spain and Italy from peaks above 7 percent have kept sentiment positive. The relative calm allowed the S&P to break through the psychologically important 1,400 level after trying unsuccessfully the past couple of sessions.
“If the ECB expands its balance sheet, it will keep pushing these bond yields lower, which can help these countries finance their debt, giving markets a bit of reprieve,” said Joseph Tanious, global market strategist at J.P. Morgan Funds in New York. “It’s likely we won’t get anything official for a few weeks, and until then investors are likely to be skittish.”
Summer holidays have added to light trading volume, which has contributed to volatility. Equities cut their gains just before the close on Tuesday, mirroring Monday’s late-day action.
Read the rest of this article at Reuters here.
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