USA - Wall Street: S&P 500 scores best day gain in about 9 months, as March kicks off with brighter economic outlook - by Mark DeCambre and Sunny Oh

U.S. stock-market benchmarks surged Monday, with the S&P 500 booking its best day of gains since June, as a gauge of manufacturing activity showed the economy was picking up steam at the start of the year.

Strategists also attributed the enthusiasm to a cool-down of last week’s rapid rise in bond yields that had unsettled the bullish mood on Wall Street and threatened to offset the easy-money policies implemented by the Federal Reserve.

Read more at: S&P 500 scores best day gain in about 9 months, as March kicks off with brighter economic outlook - MarketWatch

USA: Biden plans stimulus aid worth trillions, pushes $2,000 cheques

United States President-elect Joe Biden plans to roll out an economic stimulus package worth trillions of dollars on Thursday that includes relief for unemployed Americans and rent forbearance for tenants.

The president-elect said Friday’s dismal jobs report — which saw the economy shed 140,000 jobs in December — makes it clear that Americans need more immediate and direct relief from the coronavirus pandemic and that taking action now will help the economy even with deficit financing.

Biden, a Democrat, said the bipartisan COVID-19 relief package passed by Congress in December was a very important step, but amounted to just a “down payment” on broader efforts needed to help Americans. The package included $600 cheques, but Biden wants the amount increased to $2,000

Read more at: Biden plans stimulus aid worth trillions, pushes $2,000 cheques | Business and Economy News | Al Jazeera