The New York Stock Exchange opened up today for the first time since shutting down on March 23 to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Stocks surged as traders returned; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up as many as 681 points or 2.78% while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite were up 2.24% and 1.89% respectively. As states begin to ease lockdowns, about 1/4 of traders were able to be back on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Traders wore masks and practiced social distancing after singing a waiver for COVID-19 liability.
Airline stocks soared as Spain said it would be opening its borders to tourists beginning July 1st. On Friday, Transportation Administration airport checkpoints hit it’s highest number of travelers in months.
Commodities were mixed. West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 1.86% at $33.87 a barrel. Gold was down to 1.69% at $1,706 an ounce.
