* The Dow Jones gains 1.60%, the S & P-500 takes 1.78% and the Nasdaq is up 2.40%
by Lewis Krauskopf, Shreyashi Sanyal and Bansari Mayur Kamdar
December 21 (Reuters) – The New York Stock Exchange ended sharply higher on Tuesday, rebounding after plunging the day before amid health concerns related to the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, in the wake of gains in travel and technology stocks, while quarterly results from Nike and Micron fueled the rise.
The Dow Jones index gained 1.60%, or 560.54 points, 35,492.70 points.
The larger S & P-500 took 81.21 points, or 1.78%, 4,649.23 points.
The Nasdaq Composite advanced by 360.14 points (2.40%) 15,341.09 points.
The rapid spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus across the world, a few days before the end of the year holidays, has revived uncertainties about the implementation of new health restrictions and the economic impact thereof.
Having become the majority in the United States, the Omicron variant caused a sharp increase in new coronavirus contaminations and made the markets volatile during the last month of the year.
In the aftermath of a session in the red, Wall Street was carried by the gains recorded by large technology stocks like Microsoft and Amazon, as well as by the rise in sectors most sensitive to the economy, including energy.
Travel headlines have jumped, the image of Carnival Corp, Las Vegas Sands and Expedia.
This is “clearly” a day of risk taking, as David Joy, chief strategist at Ameriprise Financial, Boston.
“At least for today, it’s clear that investors are saying ‘we’re going to be able to navigate this Omicron wave and come out of it in good shape,’” he said.
Taken this month against a background of uncertainties, in particular health, the defensive sectors were neglected during the session.
On the value side, Nike rose 6.1% after posting better than expected quarterly sales and earnings on Monday evening and expressing confidence in improving supply chain tensions for its next fiscal year. annual.
Micron Technology, which said it expects better-than-expected second quarter earnings, climbed 10.5%.
* Reminder of the session in Europe:
* TO BE CONTINUED ON WEDNESDAY:
(French version Jean Terzian)