US stocks open higher as earnings deluge continues

Stocks

Markets are also keeping an eye on the coronavirus crisis in India, where there have now been some 20 million cases and much of the country’s health system has been overwhelmed.

AFP

May 03, 2021 / 07:49 PM IST

Source: Reuters

Source: Reuters

Wall Street stocks were higher early Monday to open a week that includes key US jobs data and earnings from General Motors, Pfizer and others.

Investors remain broadly optimistic about improving economic conditions in the United States, although there is also increased talk about the hit from cost inflation tied to higher commodity expenses and supply chain problems.

Markets are also keeping an eye on the coronavirus crisis in India, where there have now been some 20 million cases and much of the country’s health system has been overwhelmed.

Key economic reports this week include the April employment report on Friday, which will show the number of jobs added in the month and update the unemployment rate. General Motors will release results on Wednesday expected to update the market on the hit from a global semiconductor supply crunch.

About 15 minutes into trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.8 percent at 34,149.99.

The broad-based S&P 500 gained 0.5 percent to 4,203.51, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index edged up 0.2 percent to 13,984.12.

Among individual companies, Verizon rose 0.5 percent after announcing it is selling faded internet stars Yahoo and AOL to private equity firm Apollo Global Management for $ 5 billion. Apollo gained 0.5 percent.