Stock market today: US stocks surge as investors brush away Israel-Iran conflict fears in favor of solid retail sales data

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Stock market today: US stocks surge as investors brush away Israel-Iran conflict fears in favor of solid retail sales data
Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., March 5, 2020.Andrew Kelly/Reuters
  • US stocks jumped on Monday as investors brushed away concerns about the Israel-Iran conflict.
  • Stock gains extended following March retail sales data, which climbed 0.7%, more than double expectations of 0.3%.
  • First-quarter earnings results are underway, and Goldman Sachs impressed investors with a beat.
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US stocks jumped on Monday as investors shifted their focus away from this weekend's Israel-Iran conflict and turned toward solid economic data and a fresh batch of company earnings.

Iran fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel, but its defense system, in coordination with its allies, intercepted nearly all of the projectiles.

"There appears to be widespread relief that Iran's bombardment of Israel on Saturday was largely rebuffed, apparently relatively easily," Trade Nation senior market analyst Dave Morrison said.

As markets turned to the week ahead, top of mind for investors on Monday was solid economic and earnings data. Retail sales in March jumped 0.7%, more than double consensus estimates of 0.3%. While the solid sales data might lead to a longer road for disinflation, it does suggest the US economy is still on solid footing.

Goldman Sachs, meanwhile, reported first-quarter earnings results that beat Wall Street estimates, with its investment banking and fixed-income businesses driving much of the profit beat. Goldman Sachs stock jumped nearly 4% in Monday morning trades.

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Here's where US indexes stood shortly after the 9:30 a.m. opening bell on Monday:

Here's what else is going on today:

In commodities, bonds, and crypto:

  • West Texas Intermediate crude oil dropped 0.51% to $85.22 a barrel. Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell 0.60% to $89.91 a barrel.
  • Gold edged lower by 0.08% to $2,372.20 per ounce.
  • The 10-year Treasury yield climbed 8 basis points to 4.61%.
  • Bitcoin edged higher by 0.50% to $68,119.
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