US stocks climb as $900 billion stimulus deal appears imminent

<p><img src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5f984e130c60aa00190d489f-1280/pjimage (6).jpg" border="0" alt="Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell, Congress" data-mce-source="Alex Wong/Getty Images; Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images"></p><p></p><bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><ul><li><strong>US stocks gained on Thursday as a $900 billion fiscal stimulus deal appeared imminent.</strong></li><li><strong>The stimulus deal is said to include direct payments for Americans, $300 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program, and a $300 weekly federal unemployment benefit.</strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/indices">Watch major indexes update live here</a>.</strong></li></ul><hr><p>US stocks gained on Thursday and pushed toward record highs as a $900 billion fiscal stimulus bill to hasten the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic appeared imminent.</p><p>The stimulus bill <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stimulus-package-checks-deal-near-republicans-democrats-coronavirus-relief-package-2020-12">is said to include direct payments</a> for Americans, $300 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program, and a $300 weekly federal unemployment benefit.</p><p>Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was willing to back another round of direct payments <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mcconnell-wanted-covid-19-stimulus-checks-help-georgia-runoffs-nyt-2020-12">after hearing</a> that the issue was hurting the campaigns of Republican Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, who are facing runoff elections on January 5, The New York Times reported.</p><p><strong>Here's where US indexes stood shortly after the 9:30 a.m. ET open on Thursday:</strong></p><ul><li><strong><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/s&amp;p_500" target="_blank" rel="noopener">S&amp;P 500</a>:</strong> 3,716.04, up 0.4%</li><li><strong><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/dow_jones" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dow Jones industrial average</a>:</strong> 30,267.12, up 0.4% (112 points)</li><li><strong><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/nasdaq_composite" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nasdaq composite</a>:</strong> 12,728.90, up 0.6%</li></ul><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stocks-to-buy-picks-electric-vehicles-ev-china-domination-ubs-2020-12'utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy these 26 stocks poised to surge as China starts to dominate the electric-vehicle landscape, UBS says</a></em></p><p>Stocks aren't the only asset surging as the end of the year approaches. <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/currencies/news/bitcoin-btc-price-23000-massive-rally-record-highs-cryptocurrency-market-2020-12-1029902545">Bitcoin reached a record high</a> on Thursday, to above $23,000, eclipsing its 2017 high of just under $20,000.</p><p>Bitcoin is now up more than 200% year-to-date. One well-known asset manager <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/currencies/news/bitcoin-should-be-worth-400000-guggenheim-scott-minerd-says-2020-12-1029901347">thinks the cryptocurrency could hit six digits</a>.</p><p><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/roku-stock-price-hbo-max-distribution-streaming-deal-long-awaited-2020-12-1029902613">Roku soared</a> on Thursday after the streaming platform said it struck a deal with WarnerMedia to support HBO Max.</p><p>Oil prices edged higher. <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price'type=wti">West Texas Intermediate crude</a> rose as much as 1.6%, to $48.59 per barrel. <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price'utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest'utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest'utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest'utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest'utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest'utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest">Brent crude</a>, oil's international benchmark, jumped 1.6%, to $51.90 per barrel, at intraday highs.</p><p><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/gold-price">Gold</a> rose as much as 1.7%, to $1,896.26 per ounce.</p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stock-picks-ipo-market-views-top-fund-manager-brian-barish-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fund manager Brian Barish has returned more than 550% to investors over 2 decades, and he just had 2 of his best years ever. He told us how he did it - and 3 top picks for the next 5 years.</a></em></p><p><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-news-today-900-billion-stimulus-deal-appears-imminent-2020-12-1029902926#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-if-jump-off-international-space-station-2018-6">What would happen if you jumped off the International Space Station</a></p>
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