Investors looked past rising US-China tensions and sought out companies thought to be insulated from rising US virus infections. High flying tech megacaps Apple (+2.3%) and Microsoft (+2.2%) boosted all three indexes.

Investors focussed on news that some US states had re-instituted lockdown restrictions. Shares in Novavax rose 31.6% after being awarded a US$1.6 billion government contract to test, manufacture and commercialise a COVID-19 vaccine. The Dow Jones index fell by 397 points or 1.5% to near session lows. The S&P500 index fell by 1.1%. The Nasdaq index was lower by 90 points or 0.9%.

A revival in China’s economy and a record jump in US services sector activity boosted sentiment. Amazon (+5.8%) shares hits US$3,000 for the first time and Netflix (+3.6%) shares hit all-time highs pushing the Nasdaq index to fresh record highs.

On Thursday, the Dow Jones index rose by 92 points or 0.4%, supported by a 0.3% lift in Boeing shares. The S&P500 index lifted by 0.5%. The Nasdaq index was higher by 53 points or 0.5% to a record closing high.

Wall Street started the trading session strongly after the US government reported that a record 4.8 million jobs were added in June after an upwardly revised 2.7 million gain in May. US President Donald Trump said the US economy is “roaring back.”

Sentiment was boosted by positive virus vaccine developments and better-than-expected US manufacturing data.

US sharemarkets rose on Tuesday as investors weighed better than expected economic data against virus and China trade concerns. Micron Technology shares rose 4.8% after a solid earnings report.

Investors were encouraged by positive economic data. Shares in Boeing rose by 14.4%, driving the Dow Jones index higher, on news that the company had started flight testing a 737 MAX aircraft with the Federal Aviation Administration. The Dow Jones index gained 580 points or 2.3%. The S&P500 index rose by 1.5%. The Nasdaq index was higher by 117 points or 1.2%.

US sharemarkets fell 2.0-2.5% on Wednesday on fears that a lift in virus cases in many states could see re-imposition of restrictions on travel and business operations. The Dow Jones index lost 710 points or 2.7%. The S&P500 index fell by 2.6%. The Nasdaq index was lower by 222 points or 2.2%.

US sharemarkets rose on Tuesday on assurances from President Trump about the US-China trade deal and speculation that the US Congress will seek additional stimulus to bolster the economy.

Investors continued to bet on the economic reopening and central bank support, despite a surge in new COVID-19 cases in the US South and Southwest. White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow told CNBC that there was no second wave of the pandemic.

Earlier in the session the Dow Jones index gained 371 points on Bloomberg reports that China plans to increase purchases of American farm goods following talks in Hawaii this week. But increasing concerns about record COVID-19 cases in Florida and Arizona pushed shares lower with Apple (- 0.6%) re-closing 11 US stores. Volatility was heightened as equity options and futures on indexes expired. The Dow Jones index closed lower by 208 points or 0.8%. The S&P500 index fell 0.6%. The Nasdaq index was up by just 3 points. For the week, the Dow Jones gained 1%, the S&P 500 rose by 1.8% and the Nasdaq was up 3.7%.

Investors weighed the latest US economic data against reports of fresh outbreaks of the virus. The 58,000 weekly drop in unemployment claims was the smallest since claims began to retreat in early April.

While blue-chip stocks fell from session highs, technology shares out-performed. Investors were concerned about a lift in virus cases in some US states and in Beijing.

A record jump in retail sales increased investor optimism about the US economic recovery. US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said the US economy may be bottoming out in his semi-annual testimony to US Congress.

The Aussie market has slumped to its third session of losses as it took its lead from the fall in US futures. The ASX 200 has given back close to 7% in the past three sessions with 128 points or 2.2% lost today.

US sharemarkets were mixed again in a volatile session on Wednesday as investors digested the latest comments by the Fed chair. Banks fell but technology shares rose.

Investors are awaiting word from the US Federal Reserve about yield curve control and negative interest rates, subjects of broad speculation, after its policy meeting ends on Wednesday.

US sharemarkets rose on Monday as easing lockdowns boosted economic optimism. The tech-focused Nasdaq index hit a new intraday record high. Boeing (+12.2%) led gains on the Dow Jones index. Occidental Petroleum’s shares rose by 17.4% after Bloomberg reported that the company is reviewing options for its Middle Eastern assets. The Dow Jones rose by 461 points or 1.7%. The S&P500 index rose 1.2% – turning positive for 2020. And the Nasdaq index rose by 110 points or 1.1%.

Aussie shares are slipping for the first time this week, however have bounced off this morning’s lows with the ASX 200 closing in on 6,000pts.

US sharemarkets were mixed on Thursday ahead of Friday’s jobs report. Investors are also awaiting plans for the next round of US economic stimulus.

Local shares are still climbing for a fourth day in a row and the ASX 200 briefly breached 6,000 points for the first time since March 9. But the index is now only 30 points or 0.5% higher at 5,972, having peaked at 6,040 earlier.

The Australian sharemarket is extending its winning streak to three days, with the ASX 200 up 1 per cent to 5,895.3 at lunch.

Investors balanced new bouts of global stimulus and the economic recovery against trade tensions and US civil unrest.

Early trade on Tuesday has seen the ASX 200 weighed down by losses for US futures after Donald Trump threatened Military intervention if State leaders are unable to contain civil unrest.

Investors focused on signs of an economic recovery, despite growing civil unrest across the US. Shares dipped in early trading following reports that Chinese officials had told agricultural companies to pause some purchases of US farm goods, threatening the US-China trade deal. Apple (+1.2%), Amazon.com (+1.2%) and Facebook (+3%) shares boosted indexes. But Pfizer shares fell 7.2% after reporting disappointing trial results for a breast cancer drug. The Dow Jones index rose by 92 points or 0.4%, the S&P500 index rose 0.4% and the Nasdaq lifted by 62 points or 0.7%.

Aussie shares have bounced back strongly from a slow start, with the ASX 200 index up around 0.76 percent at lunch.

US sharemarkets ended mixed with relief that the US didn’t threaten the China trade deal over Hong Kong. The Dow Jones index fell 17.5 points or 0.1% but the S&P500 index rose 0.5% and the Nasdaq lifted 121 points or 1.3%.

Local shares are giving back nearly all of yesterday’s gains, this follows losses on Wall Street as US President Trump announced he would hold a press conference discussing China with tensions building between the two countries.

US President Trump announced that he will be giving a press conference on China on Friday -after the country approved Hong Kong’s new security legislation on Thursday.

Thursday has seen local shares carry on their strong form seen earlier in the week. At lunch, the ASX 200 is jumping another 140 points or 2.4% to 5915.

Investors weighed economic recovery hopes against US-China tensions. Shares in Twitter fell 2.8% and Facebook lost 1.3% on regulation fears. At the close of trade, the Dow Jones index was up by 553 points or 2.2%. The S&P500 index rose by 1.5%. And the Nasdaq index rose by 72 points or 0.8%.

US sharemarkets rose on Tuesday. Travel-related stocks soared, with the S&P 500 index up 13.5%, led by United Airlines (+16.3%) as US states begin opening up their economies. Shares of Novavax (+4.5%) and Merck (+1.2%) both lifted after they announced separate plans to develop and test COVID-19 vaccines. But reports that the US was considering sanctions on Chinese firms and officials over the situation in Hong Kong reduced index gains. At the close of trade, the Dow Jones index rose by 530 points or 2.2%. The S&P500 index was up by 1.2%. And the Nasdaq index rose by 15 points or 0.2%.

The market rally for the Aussie market has continued with the ASX 200 lifting another 102 points or 1.8% to 5716 at lunch, following a near 2.2% jump on Monday.

Investors weighed a rebound in German business sentiment and positive corporate updates against prospects for the European Commission’s COVID-19 recovery plan update on Wednesday.