Analysis: Dow Cracks 30,000, a Psychological Boost During a Pandemic
The Dow Jones Industrial Average clocked its fastest 10,000 point run up to cross 30,000 for the first time on Tuesday, giving the stock market a psychological boost at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has damaged…
The Dow Jones Industrial Average clocked its fastest 10,000 point run up to cross 30,000 for the first time on Tuesday, giving the stock market a psychological boost at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has damaged the Economy and left millions unemployed.
Investor sentiment has been lifted by encouraging news about coming coronavirus vaccines and improving prospects for a smooth White House transition. But the milestone is less significant to professional investors.
At 30,000 points the Dow could lure in small investors still on the sidelines who are now eager to share in the market exuberance. But market watchers say they are less impressed than they were with the 20,000 mark reached in January 2017, and technically speaking it means little beyond making a headline that can turn heads.
The DJIA on Tuesday surged 1.45%, or 429 points, to trade at a record high 30,015 points, not quite four years after reaching the 20,000 mark on Jan 25, 2017. Catalysts included recent signs that a working COVID-19 vaccine could be available before the end of the year, based on promising trial results released by Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca.
The index eclipsed last Monday’s high just under the threshold reached after Moderna said its COVID-19 vaccine had a 94.5% effective rate.
The rally was lubricated by news that President Donald Trump had given the go ahead to start helping the transition of President-elect Joe Biden started to alleviate the political uncertainty hanging over markets since the Nov 3 election.
The U.S. federal agency that must sign off on the presidential transition told Biden on Monday that he can formally begin the hand-over process.
As the 124-year old DJIA advances, each 10,000 milestone represents a smaller proportional gain. The index, which dates to 1896, first touched 10,000 in March 1999.
“Percentage wise, 20 to 30 is only 50%. It’s a nice number to look at, and certainly will attract some retail folks, to say ‘hey, the market’s moving’,” said Joe Saluzzi, co-manager of trading at Themis Trading in Chatham, New Jersey. “With that said I think this rally should be exhausting itself.”