Stocks traded sharply higher Monday midday as investors appeared eager to focus on signs that the rapid spread of the COVID-19 disease is stabilizing in the U.S., which has emerged as the new epicenter of the pandemic.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1,107 points, or 5.3%, to 22,159. The S&P 500 climbed 130 points, or 5.2%, to around 2,619. The Nasdaq Composite surged 379 points, or 5.1%, to 7,752.

On Friday, the Dow was 360.91 points, 1.7%, lower to end at 21,052.53, while the S&P 500 lost 38.25 points, or 1.5%, to close at 2,488.65. The Nasdaq Composite Index lost 114.23 points, or 1.5%, to end at 7,373.08.

Source : Marketwatch