US stocks higher at lunch on optimism over stimulus talks

1.10pm: Wall Street heads higher US stocks were higher at mid-session as hopes were raised on a potential breakthrough on stimulus talks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added over 319 points at 30,182. The S&P 500 gained over 41 at 3,689. The tech heavy Nasdaq advanced over 102 points at 12,542. "US markets enjoyed a welcome boost today, as investors piled in on hopes of a potential impending breakthrough in stimulus talks," said Joshua Mahony, at  London-based IG. "After months of failed negotiations, there is some optimism that a bipartisan push could lead to another bout of funding given the risk of waiting another month. With the coronavirus driving harsher restrictions in New York, the economic fallout continues to grow for the US," he said. 10.45am: Proactive North America headlines: Nabis Holdings Inc (CSE:NAB) (OTCMKTS:NABIF) (FRA:A2PL) says creditors give the thumbs up to its proposal to recapitalize its outstanding debt Ridgeline Minerals Corp (CVE:RDG) (OTCQB:RDGMF) adds another 1,780 acres to its Selena silver-gold project in Nevada Aftermath Silver  Ltd (CVE:AAG) (OTCQB:AAGFF) pleased with new resource estimate for Challacollo silver-gold project in Chile Talon Metals Corp (TSX:TLO) (OTCMKTS:TLOFF) (FRA:TAO) discovers more high-grade nickel at the Tamarack project in Minnesota LexaGene Holdings Inc (CVE:LXG) (OTCQB:LXXGF) (FRA:5XS2) receives purchase order for a MiQLab system from Ethos Discovery HighGold Mining Inc (CVE:HIGH) (OTCQX:HGGOF) unveils C$3M financing to advance Timmins gold projects Neo Lithium Corp (CVE:NLC) (OTCQX:NTTHF) (FRA:NE2) closes equity investment from CATL, the world's largest EV battery company GR Silver Mining Ltd (CVE:GRSL) (OTCQB:GRSLF) (FRA:GPE says current drilling at Plomosas continues to show potential large hydrothermal system BetterLife Pharma Inc's (CSE:BETR) (OTCQB: BETRF) (FRA:NPAU) new acquisition takes LSD from being experimental to a major therapeutic application Great Panther Mining Limited (TSE:GPR) (NYSEAMERICAN:GPL) (FRA:G3U) extends mine life at Tucano gold project with reserve and resource update 9.43am; Wall Street starts ahead The main Wall Street indices started Tuesday’s session on the front foot as optimism over US stimulus negotiations and more COVID-19 vaccine news boosted investor sentiment. Shortly after the opening bell, the Dow Jones Industrial was up 0.58% at 30,035 while the S&P 500 climbed 0.73% to 3,674 and the Nasdaq rose 0.68% to 12,524. One of the factors lifting equities on Tuesday is the assessment by the FDA of Moderna Inc’s (NASDAQ:MRNA) COVID-19 vaccine candidate, which the regulator said was “highly effective”, raising hopes that the jab could be shipped out as soon as the weekend. Meanwhile, tech giant Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) was also on the up, rising 3.6% to US$126.13 after the company said it is expecting to make 96 million iPhones in the first half of 2021, a 30% increase year-on-year. 7.50am: Wall Street to start higher on stimulus hopes Hopes that a coronavirus aid bill, backed by both major political parties, will be passed into law swiftly has lifted sentiment in New York. The Dow Jones 30-share average is expected to open 168 points higher at 30,030 while the broader-based S&P 500 is tipped to advance 22 points to open at around 3,669. The Nasdaq Composite is predicted to rise 72 points to open at 12,512. Sentiment has been boosted by the roll-out of vaccines to combat the spread of the coronavirus in the US and by the Electoral College members casting their votes as expected – i.e. for the people who won the recent election, although the rising number of coronavirus cases remains a concern. Today’s key economic news in the US will centre on the factory sector, reports Daiwa Capital Markets. “First up is the IP [industrial production] report for November, which Daiwa America chief economist Mike Moran expects will point to only modest growth in output of about 0.2%M/M [month-on-month]. A little later, the New York Fed will release its manufacturing survey for December, which last month pointed to slowest expansion since August. Export and import price readings for November round out the economic diary,” Daiwa said. Three things to watch for on Tuesday: Macro data expected today includes US industrial and manufacturing production figures as well as  the Empire State manufacturing index for December The earnings calendar is thin, however, some investors may be interested in fourth quarter earnings from adhesive dispensing equipment maker Nordson Corp (NASDAQ:NDSN) Traders may also be focusing on any developments from the ongoing stimulus negotiations after a bipartisan aid bill was unveiled late on Monday