Stocks rose broadly on Wall Street in afternoon trading Wednesday as investors welcomed China’s move to exempt some U.S. products from a recent round of tariffs.
Technology, health care and communication services stocks powered much of the gains for the benchmark S&P 500 index, which has been essentially flat for much of the week. Investors also continued to favor smaller-company stocks.
Traders snapped up technology stocks, which had fallen earlier in the week. The sector is particularly sensitive to the fallout from the trade war between Washington and Beijing because many big tech companies, such as Apple, manufacture products in China.
Shares in the iPhone maker, which unveiled a variety of new products and services on Tuesday, were up 1.4%. Chipmakers Nvidia and Intel each gained 1.3%.
Health care and communications stocks also made strong gains. Medtronic climbed 1.6% and AT&T added 2.2%.
The Move Could Indicate That Both Sides Are Settling
The financial sector wobbled between small gains and losses after pulling out of an early slide. Wells Fargo gained 1.2%.
Energy stocks fell the most as the price of U.S. crude oil slumped 2.7%. Chevron slid 1.1%.
Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 1.73% from 1.70% late Tuesday.
China on Wednesday said it will exempt American industrial grease and some other imports from tariff increases, though it kept in place penalties on soybeans and other major U.S. exports ahead of negotiations next month.
The move could indicate that both sides are settling in for an extended conflict even as they prepare for talks in Washington aimed at ending the dispute that threatens global economic growth.
Financial markets have been roiled this summer as the trade war escalated. Investors worry the impact of tariffs and a slowing global economy could tip the U.S. into a recession. The economic uncertainty has also become a drag on companies.
KEEPING SCORE: The S&P 500 rose 0.5% as of 1:29 p.m. Eastern time. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 131 points, or 0.5%, to 27,040. The Nasdaq added 0.9%.
Investors continued to shift money to smaller-company stocks. The Russell 2000 index climbed 1.4%, far outpacing the broader market.
Major indexes in Europe rose broadly.
MIDWEEK MARK: The broader market has gained ground since a wobbly start on Monday. The S&P 500 is coming off two weeks of gains and is on a path to extend its winning streak.
The Russell 2000 is the clear winner midway into the week, boasting a 3.9% gain. Smaller companies within the index are being viewed as more insulated from the impact of volatile swings in the U.S.-China trade war.
The S&P 500 is up 0.6% for the week and the Nasdaq is up 0.7%. The Dow is slightly stronger, notching a 0.9% gain.
DEEP EXHALE: Shares in tobacco giant Altria Group slid 1.1% after the Trump administration proposed banning thousands of flavors used in e-cigarettes amid an outbreak of breathing problems tied to vaping. State and federal health authorities are investigating hundreds of breathing illnesses reported in people who have used e-cigarettes and other vaping devices. No single device, ingredient or additive has been identified.
WEAK GAME: GameStop plunged 12.1% after the video game retailer slashed its full-year profit forecast following a disappointing second quarter. The company continues to struggle as it competes with online game sellers. It is also spending to revitalize existing locations in an effort to attract more customers, but said it will take time to see any results.
ARCADE MIRE: Dave & Buster’s Entertainment fell 5.4% after the restaurant and arcade operator cut its sales forecast for the year. The company is facing increased competition. The downturn hit food and beverage sales especially hard during the second quarter.
A GOOD LOOK: Shares in RH, the owner of furniture company Restoration Hardware, rose 6.3% after its latest quarterly results topped Wall Street’s expectations. The company also raised its financial forecast for the year.
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