US stocks open higher with the NASDAQ/Russell 2000 leading the way

The major US indices are trading higher to start the day. Hopes for progress toward peace are helping to spur the gains.

Technicals also helping. Yesterday the S&P index also moved above - and closed above - its 100 day moving average for the first time since February 9.

Since January 19, there have been three closes above its 100 day moving average. The first two times, the price reversed the next day. If the price today can remain above its 100 day moving average of 4545.65 today it would be the first time that we've had back to back closes above the its 100 day moving average since early 2022.

A snapshot of the market 12 minutes into the opening is currently showing:

• Dow industrial average up 329.35 points or 0.94% at 32285.25
• S&P index up 36.23 points or 0.79% at 4611.74
• NASDAQ NASDAQ The Nasdaq Stock Market or NASDAQ is an American stock exchange. It trails only the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in market capitalization and is part of a network of stock markets and options exchanges.Launched back in 1971, NASDAQ is the acronym for the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations. Since then it is known simply as NASDAQ and has become one of the most influential exchanges worldwide.The NASDAQ was the world’s first electronic stock market, and has since ass The Nasdaq Stock Market or NASDAQ is an American stock exchange. It trails only the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in market capitalization and is part of a network of stock markets and options exchanges.Launched back in 1971, NASDAQ is the acronym for the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations. Since then it is known simply as NASDAQ and has become one of the most influential exchanges worldwide.The NASDAQ was the world’s first electronic stock market, and has since ass Read this Term index up 160.89 points or 1.12% at 14515.79
• Russell 2000 up 32.41 points or 1.56% at 2110.47

In other markets:

• Gold Gold Gold is the most widely traded and important commodity. Prized for its historical importance and used for trading an exchange of goods, the gold market today is estimated at nearly $2.4 trillion.The value of gold fluctuates constantly, as it trades on public exchanges where it has a price that is determined by supply and demand. Gold has historically had tremendous significance and even today is extremely sought after. Gold has been used as a currency as it doesn't corrode, and the material allo Gold is the most widely traded and important commodity. Prized for its historical importance and used for trading an exchange of goods, the gold market today is estimated at nearly $2.4 trillion.The value of gold fluctuates constantly, as it trades on public exchanges where it has a price that is determined by supply and demand. Gold has historically had tremendous significance and even today is extremely sought after. Gold has been used as a currency as it doesn't corrode, and the material allo Read this Term is trading down $27 or -1.4% at $1894.79
• crude oil is back below the $100 level at $99.50. That's down $6.46 or -6.08%
• bitcoin is trading up about $636 at $47,788

In the US debt market, the yields are mixed with the two year up 2.5 basis points, but the 10 year down -4.7 basis points. The two – 10 year spread as a result has now to 5.8 basis points and dangerously close to negative levels. The two – 10 year spread going negative is often thought of as a prelude to a recession.