March 2 Market Close: GovCon Index Marginally Up on February Payroll Report,  Rate Hike Odds Rise

March 2 Market Close: GovCon Index Marginally Up on February Payroll Report, Rate Hike Odds Rise


GovConIndexUPThe GovCon Index edged higher Wednesday with a gain of 0.300 points to 73.224 as the three major U.S. stock indices also closed narrowly up on new data investors welcomed as showing slight improvement in the U.S. economy.

The latest National Employment Report from payroll processing services company ADP and Moody’s Analytics said private businesses in the U.S. added 214, 000 jobs in February, a number Reuters reported surpassed economists’ expectations of 190, 000 new positions.

According to Bloomberg, traders have priced in a 40-percent chance of a rate hike in June compared to the 26-percent odds posted last week and have the probability of a December increase at 68 percent, up from 42 percent last Wednesday.

Energy stocks and financial shares were the top gainers among sectors in the S&P 500 composite index, which rose 8.1 points, or 0.41 percent.

Top GovCon Index Gainers

SymbolCompany$ Current PriceNet Change% Change
IIntelsat1.880.3825.33%
NAVNavistar International9.270.434.86%
OAOrbital ATK84.693.784.85%
EGLEngility Holdings16.020.644.16%
CACICACI International99.232.262.33%

Market Summary

Advancing GovCon Index Issues19
Declining GovCon Index Issues11
Unchanged GovCon Index Issues0
IndexValueNet Change% Change
GovCon Index73.224+0.300+0.411%
S&P 5001, 986.45+8.10+0.41%
Dow Jones Industrial Average16, 899.08+34.24+0.20%
NASDAQ4, 703.42+13.83+0.29%

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