Wall Street Close: Mixed session, dipping into the close on COVID-19 bill hold-ups

US Benchmarks were bid for all of the day on Wednesday until the last hour, with the DJIA and S&P 500 posting their first back-to-back gains since Feb. 12 as investors awaited unprecedented government spending packages, expecting the stimulus to pass imminently. However, signs of a fight between Sen. Bernie Sanders and GOP senators over unemployment aid threatened to delay coronavirus stimulus weighed on US stocks into the close. 

• Sanders’ fight with GOP senators over unemployment aid, stocks sink into the close

Consequently, the three major benchmarks closed well off their intraday peaks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended higher by 495 points, or 2.4%, at 21,200, well below its 22,019.93 high. The S&P 500 index added 28 points, or 1.2%, at 2,476, while the Nasdaq Composite Index closed 0.5% lower at 7,384. 

Wall Street losing its biggest bid

Investors are waiting for the fact to drop, but there were signs that the news was already being priced in. While the stimulus is most welcomed, with the legislation likely to include direct financial payments to many Americans of $1,600, as well as loans to businesses, it should not be forgotten that the market has just lost its biggest bid - corporate share buybacks.

The stock markets are showing signs of stabilisation with a historic bounce. However, if 2008 and 1987 are anything to go by, this should b a warning that there could be much more downside yet to come.

Trying to catch a falling knife in this volatility with a COVID-19 health crisis exploding in the US, with no cure or vaccine on the table, makes for a dangerous strategy. It is especially worrisome when considering the prospect of an impasse in the Senate, jeopardising the prospects of a quickly approved legislation, which is urgently required in order to make direct payments to Americans, loans to small and larger businesses and resources to States and hospitals to fight the outbreak.

DJIA levels