Updated Sep 28, 2018

U.S. stocks have best quarter since 2013

Courtenay Brown
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Data: FactSet; Chart: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios

The S&P 500 index had its best quarterly gain in four years, with health care as the standout sector.

Why it matters: Investors prioritized rosy corporate earnings over escalating trade tensions and rising interest rates, which many predicted would drive stocks down.

Health care and industrials were the top performing sectors.

  • The technology sector was the third best performing sector, despite companies like Facebook's tumultuous three months.
  • The materials sector, comprised of companies like United States Steel, was the loser.

The best performing stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average were Apple, Pfizer, and Nike.

  • Intel, Chevron, and DowDupont were among the worst performing Dow stocks.

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Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 9 a.m. ET: 952,171 — Total deaths: 48,320 — Total recoveries: 202,541 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 9 a.m. ET: 216,722 — Total deaths: 5,137 — Total recoveries: 8,672 — Map.
  3. Stimulus updates: Social Security recipients won't need to file a tax return to receive their checks.
  4. Jobs update: 6.6 million people filed for unemployment last week, a staggering number that eclipses the record set on March 26.
  5. Health updates: The Trump administration won't reopen enrollment for ACA marketplaces this year.
  6. National updates: The Grand Canyon closed after a resident tested positive for coronavirus.
  7. World update: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu re-entered self-quarantine after his health minister tested positive for coronavirus.
  8. What should I do? Answers about the virus from Axios experts — What to know about social distancing — Q&A: Minimizing your coronavirus risk.
  9. Other resources: CDC on how to avoid the virus, what to do if you get it.

Subscribe to Mike Allen's Axios AM to follow our coronavirus coverage each morning from your inbox.

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