Toward the end of trading Wednesday, the Dow traded up 0.27% to 30,416.16 while the NASDAQ rose 0.29% to 12,886.98. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.17% to 3,733.30.
The U.S. has the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the world, reporting a total of 19,515,520 cases with around 338,650 deaths. India confirmed a total of at least 10,244,850 confirmed cases and 148,430 deaths, while Brazil reported over 7,563,550 COVID-19 cases with 192,680 deaths. In total, there were at least 82,073,260 cases of COVID-19 worldwide with over 1,792,580 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Leading and Lagging Sectors
Energy shares climbed 1.4% on Wednesday. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included California Resources Corporation CRC 10.5%, up 11%, and Earthstone Energy, Inc. ESTE 9.31%, up 9%.
In trading on Wednesday, communication services shares fell 0.7%.
Top Headline
The COVID-19 vaccine co-developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca plc AZN 0.35%received the UK approval for emergency supply on Wednesday.
The U.K health department accepted the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) recommendation to authorize AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine, which showed efficacy between 70% and 90%.
Equities Trading UP
Bionano Genomics, Inc. BNGO 64.66% shares shot up 72% to $2.29. Bionano Genomics was granted a 180-day extension by the Nasdaq to regain compliance with bid price rule. The company’s stock added over 50% on Tuesday. Bionano, on Monday, announced its customer, Praxis Genomics, was accredited by College Of American Pathologists.
Shares of Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. HEPA 14.18% got a boost, shooting 15% to $2.3899 after the company announced topline data from the low-dose cohort in the Phase 2a AMBITION clinical trial of CRV431 in NASH patients with evidence of moderate-to-severe fibrosis, showing CRV431 was generally safe and well-tolerated.
Net Element, Inc. NETE 62.7% shares were also up, gaining 60% to $18.03 after the company's merger partner, Mullen Technologies, received a letter of intent for a purchase order of 1,500 MX-05 electric vehicles.
Equities Trading DOWN
B.O.S. Better Online Solutions Ltd. BOSC 20.63% shares tumbled 20% to $2.28 after the company reported a $2 million common stock offering.
Shares of China Finance Online Co. Limited JRJC 23.38% were down 22% to $8.53 following Q3 results. China Finance Online reported a Q3 loss of $0.66 per share, versus a year-ago loss of $0.91 per share. Its net revenue climbed to $10.7 million from $8.1 million.
Osmotica Pharmaceuticals plc OSMT 19.94% was down, falling 20% to $4.2350 as the company said the FDA issued a complete response letter for its NDA seeking approval for the investigational agent arbaclofen extended release tablets to treat spasticity resulting from multiple sclerosis. The FDA made a number of recommendations, including that the company conduct a new study in order to provide substantial evidence of efficacy of arbaclofen, Osmotica said.
Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded up 0.7% to $48.35, while gold traded up 0.6% to $1,894.90.
Silver traded up 1.6% Wednesday to $26.645 while copper fell 0.1% to $3.551.
Euro zone
European shares closed lower today. AstraZeneca plc AZN 0.35% disclosed that its COVID-19 vaccine has received approval in the United Kingdom for emergency use. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 fell 0.34%, the Spanish Ibex Index fell 0.25% and German DAX 30 declined 0.31%. Meanwhile, the French CAC 40 slipped 0.22%, London’s FTSE 100 dropped 0.71% and Italy’s FTSE MIB Index fell 0.12%.
Economics
The US goods trade deficit increased to $84.82 billion in November versus $80.42 billion in the prior month, the advance estimate showed.
Wholesale inventories declined 0.1% in November versus a revised 1.2% increase in October.
The Chicago PMI rose 1.3 points to a reading of 59.5 in December.
US pending home sales fell 2.6% in November.
US crude oil inventories dropped 6.1 million barrels last week, the Energy Information Administration said.
Data on farm prices for November will be released at 3:00 p.m. ET.
Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Recommended Content
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD edges lower toward 1.0700 post-US PCE
EUR/USD stays under modest bearish pressure but manages to hold above 1.0700 in the American session on Friday. The US Dollar (USD) gathers strength against its rivals after the stronger-than-forecast PCE inflation data, not allowing the pair to gain traction.
GBP/USD retreats to 1.2500 on renewed USD strength
GBP/USD lost its traction and turned negative on the day near 1.2500. Following the stronger-than-expected PCE inflation readings from the US, the USD stays resilient and makes it difficult for the pair to gather recovery momentum.
Gold struggles to hold above $2,350 following US inflation
Gold turned south and declined toward $2,340, erasing a large portion of its daily gains, as the USD benefited from PCE inflation data. The benchmark 10-year US yield, however, stays in negative territory and helps XAU/USD limit its losses.
Bitcoin Weekly Forecast: BTC’s next breakout could propel it to $80,000 Premium
Bitcoin’s recent price consolidation could be nearing its end as technical indicators and on-chain metrics suggest a potential upward breakout. However, this move would not be straightforward and could punish impatient investors.
Week ahead – Hawkish risk as Fed and NFP on tap, Eurozone data eyed too
Fed meets on Wednesday as US inflation stays elevated. Will Friday’s jobs report bring relief or more angst for the markets? Eurozone flash GDP and CPI numbers in focus for the Euro.