Stocks Hit Highs, Bonds Tumble After Powell Pivot: Markets Wrap
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U.S. stocks’ record-breaking rally continued and bond yields surged after Jerome Powell reiterated that the Federal Reserve will remain accommodative. The dollar climbed from a two-year low.
The S&P 500 reached an all-time high for a fifth day. The Nasdaq Composite also set a record before closing in the red. The yield premium demanded by investors on long-maturity U.S. debt compared to short-term notes increased to the most in two months after Powell said the Fed will seek inflation that averages 2% over time, a step that implies allowing for periods of overshoots. The financial and real estate sectors were the biggest gainers in the S&P, with banks seen benefiting from the higher yields. The benchmark index has surged about 56% from its March lows.