U.S. stocks closed higher on Monday, as investors appeared to look past renewed global trade tensions.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 35.41 points, or 0.08 percent, to 42,305.48. The Standard and Poor's 500 added 24.25 points, or 0.41 percent, to 5,935.94. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased 128.85 points, or 0.67 percent, to 19,242.61.
Ten of the 11 primary Standard and Poor's 500 sectors ended in green, with energy and technology leading the gainers by adding 1.15 percent and 0.89 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, industrials bucked the trend by losing 0.24 percent.
The U.S. manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for May, published by the Institute for Supply Management, dropped to 48.5, hitting a new low since November of last year, marking the third consecutive month in contraction.
Against the backdrop of significant increases in the U.S. tariffs, the import index fell to its lowest level since 2009.
U.S. manufacturers are facing challenges of rising raw material costs and extended delivery times due to the tariff policies. Following the release of the data, the U.S. dollar index quickly fell, dropping to a six-week low at one point.
In Europe, as investors were focused on the prospects of U.S.-EU trade negotiations, The European Union warned that if no agreement is reached, it may resort to countermeasures ahead of schedule.
Due to the uncertainty of tariff policies, automotive stocks fell. Stellantis dropped nearly 4.8 percent, Mercedes-Benz sagged about 2.7 percent, and BMW saw a decline of over 2.4 percent.
Europe's three major stock indices showed mixed results on Monday.
In the crude oil futures market, the potential escalation and spread of conflicts in Eastern Europe and the upcoming peak travel season in the Northern Hemisphere have spawn optimism about the short-term prospects for oil demand, leading to a significant rise in international oil prices on Monday.
The West Texas Intermediate for July delivery went up 1.73 U.S. dollars, or 2.85 percent, to settle at 62.52 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for August delivery increased 1.85 dollars, or 2.95 percent, to settle at 64.63 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.
In the precious metals futures market, the ongoing geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe, along with the U.S. government's fluctuating tariff policies and potential surge in fiscal deficits, fueled a rise in market risk aversion.
These factors led to a significant increase in international gold prices on Monday, with prices briefly jumping above the 3,400 dollars per ounce mark during intraday trading.
US stocks close higher despite trade headwinds
US stocks close higher despite trade headwinds
