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If you’re one of the millions of Americans making less or receiving unemployment benefits because of the coronavirus pandemic, you’re probably working to recalibrate your finances.
NEW YORK - U.S. equity markets surged to their best levels in months as states continued to reopen and as traders returned to the New York Stock Exchange for the first time since shutting down on March 23 to slow the spread of COVID-19.
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The Dow Jones Industrial Average reclaimed the 25,000 level before pulling back to close higher rising over 529 points, or 2.17 percent. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite were higher by 1.23 percent and 0.17 percent, respectively. The gains helped build on the major average's advance last week of more than 3 percent.
At least five states are taking steps to ease lockdowns on Tuesday, with Michigan allowing retail businesses to open by appointment and Arkansas letting freestanding bars unlock their doors.
Meanwhile, about one-quarter of traders are back on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange after a two-month closure due to COVID-19. Those returning to the trading floor must wear masks, avoid taking public transportation, practice social distancing and are divided by Plexiglas. Traders also had to sign a waiver limiting the exchange’s COVID-19 liability.
Airlines soared as the number of travelers passing through Transportation Security Administration airport checkpoints hit 348,673 on Friday, the highest since March 22, and Spain said it would be opening its borders to tourists beginning July 1.
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Drugmaker Novavax begins dosing for its Phase 1 clinical trial of its experimental COVID-19 vaccine.
Merck purchased privately held Austrian vaccine maker Themis Bioscience and said it would work with nonprofit IAVI to develop two separate COVID-19 vaccines.
Elsewhere, rental car company Hertz filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection late Friday, and has several weeks to reach a deal with creditors before having to fully liquidate its fleet, Reuters reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
On the earnings front, Autozone reported earnings and sales numbers that topped Wall Street estimates.
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Commodities were mixed, with West Texas Intermediate crude oil up 3.31 percent at $34.35 a barrel and gold down 1.72 percent at $1,704.80 an ounce.
U.S. Treasurys were lower, causing the yield on the 10-year note to rise 0.697 percent.
European markets were higher across the board with France's gaining 1.46 percent, Britain's FTSE advancing 1.24 percent and Germany’s DAX climbing 1 percent.
In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei paced the advance, gaining 2.55 percent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and China’s Shanghai Composite were up 1.88 percent and 1.01 percent, respectively.
Get updates on this story from foxbusiness.com.