Stock Market News Today: Stocks Start the Week with a Bang

Stocks started the week with a bang, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged more than 400 points, or 1.7%. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both jumped more than 2%.

The strong start to the week was driven by a combination of positive developments. The U.S. government and China agreed to a phase one trade deal that will reduce tariffs and increase Chinese purchases of U.S. agricultural products. In addition, the U.K. and the European Union reached a Brexit deal that would keep the U.K. in a close trading relationship with the EU.

The news was welcomed by investors, who have been eagerly awaiting a resolution to the trade war and Brexit. With the news of the deals, investors were optimistic that the global economy would avoid a recession and continue to expand.

In addition, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the third time this year, which helped to boost investor sentiment. The rate cut was widely expected, but the Fed signaled that it would likely pause its rate cutting in 2020. That news was seen as positive, as it suggested that the Fed believes the economy is in good shape and does not need additional stimulus.

The strong start to the week was also driven by positive earnings reports from several major companies. Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon all reported better-than-expected earnings, which helped to lift the markets.

Overall, the markets had a strong start to the week, and investors are optimistic that the global economy will continue to expand. With the trade war and Brexit issues resolved, and the Fed signaling that it will pause its rate cutting, investors are looking forward to a positive year in 2020.