Mid-Morning Market Update: Markets Open Higher; Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Is 90% Effective

Following the market opening Monday, the Dow traded up 4.33% to 29,549.56 while the NASDAQ rose 1.30% to 12,050.38. The S&P also rose, gaining 3.16% to 3,620.38.

The U.S. has the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the world, reporting a total of 9,975,500 cases with around 237,580 deaths. India confirmed a total of at least 8,553,650 confirmed cases and 126,610 deaths, while Brazil reported over 5,664,110 COVID-19 cases with 162,390 deaths. In total, there were at least 50,523,500 cases of COVID-19 worldwide with over 1,258,100 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Leading and Lagging Sectors

Financial shares climbed 7.7% on Monday. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included Signature Bank SBNY, up 24%, and Lincoln National Corporation LNC, up 25%.

In trading on Monday, consumer discretionary shares rose by just 0.5%.

Top Headline

Pfizer Inc. PFE/BioNTech SE – ADR BNTX became the first among the vaccine developers to release interim results from the largescale final phase clinical results, with the first interim analysis yielding solid efficacy results.

The mRNA vaccine candidate, codenamed BNT162b2, developed by the combo was found to be more than 90% effective in preventing COVID-19 in healthy volunteers, Pfizer/BioNTech said, citing first interim analysis of the large-scale Phase 3 study.

 

 

Equities Trading UP

Aptevo Therapeutics Inc. APVO shares shot up 98% to $47.01. Aptevo Therapeutics reported a limited duration stockholder rights plan late Sunday after Tang Capital Partners reported a 54.4% stake in the company. The company also said a 2nd patient showed complete remission in its study for a treatment for acute myeloid leukemia.

Shares of AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. AMC got a boost, shooting 33% to $3.29 amid positive vaccine news which could accelerate moviegoing.

Cinemark Holdings, Inc. CNK shares were also up, gaining 47% to $13.21 amid positive vaccine news which may accelerate a return to normal movie demand.

 

Equities Trading DOWN

180 Life Sciences Corp. ATNF shares tumbled 42% to $2.92
after KBL Merger Corp. IV announced completion of acquisition of 180 Life Sciences Corp.

Shares of Quidel Corporation QDEL were down 36% to $180.86. Quidel is scheduled to host its Quidel Investor Day 2020 event virtually on November 12.

HighPoint Resources Corporation HPR was down, falling 36% to $3.50 after the company announced it would merge with Bonanza Creek Energy in an all-stock transaction. HighPoint Resources reported upbeat quarterly results.

 

Commodities

In commodity news, oil traded up 10.5% to $41.02, while gold traded down 3.8% to $1,876.70.

Silver traded down 4.8% Monday to $24.425 while copper rose 1.6% to $3.2045.

Euro zone

European shares were higher today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 rose 4.5%, the Spanish Ibex Index climbed 8.8%, while Italy’s FTSE MIB Index surged 5.7%. Meanwhile, the German DAX 30 climbed 6.3%, French CAC 40 jumped 8.5% and London’s FTSE 100 rose 5.8%.

Germany's trade balance surplus increased in September to EUR 17.8 billion, beating a consensus of EUR 15.8 billion.

Economics

The Investor Movement Index for October will be released at 12:30 p.m. ET.

The Treasury will auction 3-year notes at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Loretta Master is set to speak at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker will speak at 2:20 p.m. ET.