economic activity slowed in Novembe r as coronavirus cases surged.The S&P 500 is now up about 13.6% for the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.2% on Wednesday, to 29,883.79.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite, which also opened the month with a new record, slipped 0.1% to 12,349.37.Optimism about vaccine developments have tempered lingering concerns over rising virus cases in the U.S., though worries persist about the economic fallout from new government restrictions on businesses aimed at limiting the spread.Unemployment remains high as the COVID-19 outbreak widens the gulf between average people and the wealthiest Americans.