US open: Stocks move higher after better-than-expected survey data

(Sharecast News) - Gains in US stocks appeared to be sticking on Friday, following five consecutive down sessions.

As of 1712 BST, the Dow Jones Industrials was adding 1.05% or 61.59 points to 5,929.95, while the S&P 500 was ahead by 1.37% or 264.50 points at 19,545.34.

The Nasdaq Composite meanwhile was up by 1.36% or 255.64 points to 19,536.07.

The US dollar spot index was lower alongside, while yields on benchmark 10-year US Treasury note yields and WTI oil futures were moving higher.

In the spotlight was news that the outgoing Biden administration had blocked the proposed $14.1bn takeover of US Steel by Japanese rival Nippon Steel.

On the economic side of things, the Institute for Supply Management said that its factory sector Purchasing Managers' Index for December improved from a reading of 48.4 for November to 49.3 in December (consensus: 48.4).

Also of interest, Richmond Fed boss, Thomas Barkin, told an audience in Maryland that while inflation wasn't yet back to target, he did not believe that it was necessary to "be nearly as restrictive as we once were to finish the job".

Barkin also said that he was anticipating more upside than downside economic surprises on the growth front.

Dow Jones - Risers

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (WBA) $9.42 2.50%

Unitedhealth Group Inc. (UNH) $513.76 1.83%

Intel Corp. (INTC) $20.49 1.34%

Walmart Inc. (WMT) $91.19 1.33%

Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) $40.56 0.88%

International Business Machines Corporation (CDI) (IBM) $221.74 0.82%

Chevron Corp. (CVX) $147.90 0.81%

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) $421.84 0.78%

3M Co. (MMM) $130.71 0.77%

Amgen Inc. (AMGN) $261.18 0.73%

Dow Jones - Fallers

Nike Inc. (NKE) $73.36 -0.42%

Apple Inc. (AAPL) $243.17 -0.28%

Dow Chemical Co. (DOW) $39.44 -0.27%

Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) $58.99 -0.19%

Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK) $99.04 -0.14%

Visa Inc. (V) $314.13 -0.09%

Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) $165.97 -0.01%

Dowdupont Inc. (DWDP) $0.00 0.00%

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) $575.11 0.02%

Home Depot Inc. (HD) $388.62 0.04%

S&P 500 - Risers

Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) $1.12 16.02%

NRG Energy Inc. (NRG) $99.79 7.60%

Mosaic Company (MOS) $25.40 4.18%

Humana Inc. (HUM) $263.17 4.17%

Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) $144.03 4.14%

FMC Technologies Inc. (FTI) $30.69 3.79%

CVS Health Corp (CVS) $45.78 3.53%

Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) $124.52 3.23%

Cencora Inc (COR) $231.94 3.20%

Applied Materials Inc. (AMAT) $169.11 3.20%

S&P 500 - Fallers

Dollar Tree Inc (DLTR) $73.30 -4.15%

Advance Auto Parts (AAP) $46.30 -3.82%

Molson Coors Beverage Co. Class B (TAP) $55.58 -2.84%

Estee Lauder Co. Inc. (EL) $72.00 -2.68%

Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE) $429.20 -2.68%

Akamai Technologies Inc. (AKAM) $92.88 -2.66%

Carnival Corp. (CCL) $24.35 -2.62%

VF Corp. (VFC) $21.02 -2.41%

Leggett & Platt Inc. (LEG) $9.35 -2.35%

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH) $25.35 -2.20%

Nasdaq 100 - Risers

Mercadolibre Inc. (MELI) $1,846.09 4.59%

Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) $144.03 4.14%

Trip.com Group Limited (TCOM) $67.37 4.01%

Tesla Inc (TSLA) $394.00 3.88%

Applied Materials Inc. (AMAT) $169.11 3.20%

Lam Research Corp. (LRCX) $74.59 2.97%

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (TTWO) $188.39 2.91%

Illumina Inc. (ILMN) $134.43 2.67%

JD.com, Inc. (JD) $35.12 2.60%

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (WBA) $9.42 2.50%

Nasdaq 100 - Fallers

Dollar Tree Inc (DLTR) $73.30 -4.15%

Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE) $429.20 -2.68%

Qurate Retail Inc. (QRTEA) $0.37 -2.52%

Liberty Global plc Series C (LBTYK) $13.26 -2.36%

Liberty Global plc Series A (LBTYA) $12.84 -2.17%

DENTSPLY Sirona Inc. (XRAY) $18.56 -1.01%

American Airlines Group (AAL) $16.83 -0.97%

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (CHKP) $183.70 -0.48%

eBay Inc. (EBAY) $62.01 -0.43%

Vodafone Group Plc ADS (VOD) $8.48 -0.35%