Stocks rise as bumpy quarter has calm end

NEW YORK — U.S. stocks climbed on Monday and gave one last nudge to ensure the S&P 500 emerged from yet another tumultuous quarter with a modest gain.

As has been the case throughout the quarter, movements in President Donald Trump’s trade war with China helped drive the market on Monday. Investors found encouragement after China said that its top trade negotiator will lead talks with the United States that are expected to take place next week. The Trump administration also calmed some worries that it may limit U.S. investment in Chinese companies.

The developments helped push technology stocks higher in particular. Those companies often move along with news about trade because of how reliant they are on China as both a customer and a supplier. The S&P 500 climbed 14.95 points, or 0.5 percent, to 2,976.74.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 96.58, or 0.4 percent, to 26,916.83, and the Nasdaq composite added 59.71, or 0.8 percent, to 7,999.34.

The moves left the S&P 500 with a 1.2 percent gain for the quarter. While that was its smallest quarterly gain this year, the index had been on track for a much worse performance just a month ago.

Like the S&P 500, the Dow also ended the quarter with a gain of 1.2 percent. The technology-heavy Nasdaq was a touch lower, with a loss of 0.1 percent.

Small companies took on more damage, as they typically do when investors are worried about the threat of a recession. The Russell 2000 lost 2.8 percent during the quarter.

Don’t expect the tumult to end with the close of the quarter.

Aside from the U.S.-China talks, the next three months have plenty of events on the schedule to keep markets on edge. Beyond the United Kingdom’s pending exit from the European Union, investors are also waiting to see whether Germany will enter a recession and how the new incoming head of the European Central Bank performs.

Closer to home, the impeachment inquiry into Trump could create even more uncertainty. That puts more pressure on the consumer, the bulwark of the U.S. economy recently, particularly when businesses have become reluctant to spend due to the trade war.

“The consumer’s been enough to keep the economy moving, but things like consumer confidence seem to be plateauing,” said Emily Roland, co-chief investment strategist at John Hancock Investment Management.