Stock markets closed flat Friday, almost unchanged from Thursday’s closing levels, amid slight signs of negotiators’ progress over another stimulus deal with coronavirus.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 34 points, or 0.1 percent, while the S&P 500 closed up 0.6 points, a small fraction of a percentage point. The composite NASDAQ also fell 23 points, to 0.2 percent.
On Thursday, the Senate postponed the August recession without agreement on a deal that would reshuffle additional unemployment benefits, renew a small business lending program and potentially provide a new round of stimulus checks.
President Trump
Donald John TrumpUPS, FedEx shuts down talks to deal with post-in vote, warns of ‘major’ issues: reports GOP Georgia’s controversial candidate attempts to distance himself from QAnon Trump orders TikTok parent company to sell US assets within 90 days MORE signaled that he was open to compromise on funding from the Postal Service in exchange for concessions from Congress Democrats.
But with both rooms shut down, the chances of a quick deal disappear, leaving millions of Americans left behind who have been hit by the pandemic without much of a safety net.
That could have a ripple effect on the economy if households cut back on spending.
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