US STOCKS-S&P 500 flat as vaccine bets offset surging coronavirus cases; Boeing rises
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* Boeing (BA) surges on 737 MAX jet approval
* Pfizer gains on improved final vaccine trial data
* Lowe's (LOW) slides after forecast disappoints
* Target (TGT), TJX rise as results beat
* Indexes: Dow up 0.2%, S&P flat, Nasdaq down 0.3% (Updates to market open)
By
The planemaker advanced 3.2% after getting U.S. approval to fly its 737 MAX jet again after a 20-month grounding following two fatal crashes.
The news also lifted shares of airlines. American Airlines (AAL) gained 3.6% and Southwest Airlines (LUV) added 2.1% as the carriers laid out plans to fly the aircraft again.
Pfizer Inc (PFE) said it would apply for emergency U.S. authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine within days and disclosed final results from a late-stage trial that showed it was 95% effective. The drugmaker's shares rose 3%.
The announcement comes after Moderna Inc (MRNA) on Monday released preliminary data for its COVID-19 vaccine, showing similar effectiveness.
Meanwhile, the number of reported global daily deaths from
the coronavirus stood at its highest ever on Tuesday, as the
virus's global epicenter
"The current market narrative seems to encompass a
tug-of-war between good news on the vaccine front, juxtaposed
against increasing new cases of COVID," said
At
Target Corp (TGT) rose 2.3% after the big-box retailer blew past expectations for quarterly profit and sales, as its quick delivery services boosted online shopping.
Discount store operator TJX Companies Inc rose about 3% after topping quarterly sales estimates.
"With earnings announcements coming in better than expected
from the retail space and the positive news on Boeing (BA), it should
drive interest in cyclicals," said
S&P sectors sensitive to economic growth, such as financials , industrials, materials and energy , led the gainers.
The benchmark S&P 500 and the blue-chip Dow retreated from all-time highs on Tuesday as glum U.S. retail sales data, as well as the specter of fresh restrictions dampened demand for risky assets.
Lowe's Cos Inc tumbled 5% as the home improvement chain forecast holiday-quarter earnings largely below analysts' estimates.
Advancing issues outnumbered decliners on the NYSE by a 1.9-to-1 ratio and by a 1.7-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.
The S&P 500 posted 12 new 52-week highs and no new low,
while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 130 new highs and five new
lows.
(Reporting by