Wall Street claws back some of its September losses

Stocks notched solid gains Monday as Wall Street clawed back some of its sharp and sudden September losses.

The S& P 500 rose 1.6%, it's third straight gain. The benchmark index was coming off its first four- week losing streak in more than a year and is on track to close out September with a loss of 4.2% after five months of gains.

The market's gains were widespread, with more than 90% of the stocks in the S& P 500 higher. Big Tech stocks, which have been getting the most criticism for getting too expensive following their strong pandemic run, did the heaviest lifting. Several companies announced big mergers and acquisitions, which helped to push markets higher.

Optimism that Democrats and Republicans in Congress will reach a deal on another coronavirus relief bill also helped put investors in a buying mood, said Nela Richardson, investment strategist at Edward Jones.

"There's real concern about a second wave of infections, concern that we're just riding the coattails of growth that happened after the economy opened up in May," Richardson said. "Anything that looks like new lifeblood for the economy is read as a positive stimulus."

The S& P 500 rose 53.14 points to 3,351.60. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 410.10 points, or 1.5%, to 27,584.06. The Nasdaq composite climbed 203.96 points, or 1.9%, to 11,117.53. Traders also bid up smaller company stocks, sending the Russell 2000 small- cap index up 35.43 points, or 2.4%, to 1,510.34.

One of the big worries hurting stocks this month has been fears that the market climbed too high and got too expensive through its 60% rally from late March into early September. But several companies announced big mergers and acquisitions, which show that at least some CEOS see value at current prices.

Energy stocks made broad gains after Devon Energy and WPX Energy agreed to combine in an all- stock deal. Devon Energy led the S& P 500 companies higher, climbing 11.1%. WPX Energy rose 16.4%.

Cleveland- Cliffs jumped 11.6% after it said it will buy the U. S. business of steelmaking and mining giant Arcelormittal for $ 1.4 billion. Arcelormittal's U. S.- listed stock rose 10.6%.