Dow jumps 529 points as stocks soar on reopening optimism

U.S. equity markets surged to their best levels in months as states continued to reopen and traders returned to the New York Stock Exchange for the first time since its closure on March 23 to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Ticker	Security	Last	Change	Change %
I:DJI	DOW JONES AVERAGES	37986.4	+211.02	+0.56%
SP500	S&P 500	4967.23	-43.89	-0.88%
I:COMP	NASDAQ COMPOSITE INDEX	15282.009722	-319.49	-2.05%

The Dow Jones Industrial Average reclaimed the 25,000 level before pulling back into the close and closing up 530 points, or 2.17 percent. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite finished higher by 1.23 percent and 0.17 percent, respectively, helping build on the major averages' advances last week of more than 3 percent.

Financials got a boost after JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon made some optimistic comments about the economic recovery post-COVID-19 and the health of his bank.

Ticker	Security	Last	Change	Change %
JPM	JPMORGAN CHASE & CO.	185.80	+4.66	+2.57%
XLF	FINANCIAL SELECT SECTOR SPDR ETF	40.40	+0.55	+1.38%

At least five states are took steps to ease lockdowns on Tuesday, with Michigan allowing retail businesses to open by appointment and Arkansas letting freestanding bars unlock their doors.

NYSE’S FLOOR TO REOPEN WITH MASKS, VIRUS WAIVERS & HANDSHAKE BAN

Meanwhile, about one-quarter of traders returned to the floor of the New York Stock Exchange after a two-month closure due to COVID-19. Those returning had to wear masks, avoid taking public transportation, practice social distancing and were divided by Plexiglas. Traders also had to sign a waiver limiting the exchange’s COVID-19 liability.

Ticker	Security	Last	Change	Change %
ICE	INTERCONTINENTAL EXCHANGE INC.	131.21	+0.23	+0.18%
CME	CME GROUP INC.	213.04	+3.39	+1.62%
CBOE	CBOE GLOBAL MARKETS INC.	180.40	+2.80	+1.58%

Airlines soared as the number of travelers passing through Transportation Security Administration airport checkpoints hit 348,673 on Friday, the highest since March 22, and Spain said it would be opening its borders to tourists beginning July 1.

Ticker	Security	Last	Change	Change %
AAL	AMERICAN AIRLINES GROUP INC.	14.11	+0.09	+0.64%
UAL	UNITED AIRLINES HOLDINGS INC.	51.38	-0.04	-0.08%
DAL	DELTA AIR LINES INC.	47.58	-0.26	-0.55%

Drugmaker Novavax begins dosing for its Phase 1 clinical trial of its experimental COVID-19 vaccine.

Merck purchased privately held Austrian vaccine maker Themis Bioscience and said it would work with nonprofit IAVI to develop two separate COVID-19 vaccines.

Ticker	Security	Last	Change	Change %
NVAX	NOVAVAX INC.	3.97	+0.08	+2.06%
MRK	MERCK & CO. INC.	125.78	+0.55	+0.44%

Elsewhere, rental car company Hertz filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection late Friday, and has several weeks to reach a deal with creditors before having to fully liquidate its fleet, Reuters reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

On the earnings front, Autozone reported earnings and sales numbers that topped Wall Street estimates.

Ticker	Security	Last	Change	Change %
HTZ	HERTZ GLOBAL	5.97	-0.02	-0.33%
AZO	AUTOZONE INC.	2,985.54	+12.37	+0.42%

Commodities were mixed, with West Texas Intermediate crude oil up 3.31 percent at $34.35 a barrel and gold down 1.72 percent at $1,704.80 an ounce.

U.S. Treasurys were lower, causing the yield on the 10-year note to rise 0.697 percent.

European markets were higher across the board with France's gaining 1.46 percent, Britain's FTSE advancing 1.24 percent and Germany’s DAX climbing 1 percent.

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In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei paced the advance, gaining 2.55 percent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and China’s Shanghai Composite were up 1.88 percent and 1.01 percent, respectively.