Stocks were Trading Higher, Oil Prices Fell

U.S. stocks were trading higher Friday morning in volatile trading, as investors weighed a rising case count from the coronavirus against massive stimulus measures from policymakers globally. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lately rose 223.70 points, or 1.11%, to 20,310.89. The S&P 500 added 13.32 points, or 0.55%, to 2,422.71. The Nasdaq Composite gained 122.94 points, or 1.72%, to 7,273.52.

Oil shook off earlier gains on Friday, as economic stimulus plans from government and central banks failed to offset pressure from expectations for steep coronavirus-fueled losses in demand and a Saudi-Russian price war. West Texas Intermediate crude for April delivery fell $1.12, or 4.4%, to $24.10 a barrel. May Brent crude fell 44 cents, or 1.6%, to $28.03 a barrel

Lawmakers in Washington, D.C., were hurrying to assemble a second bailout package to help lessen the current and anticipated economic pain from the pandemic that has claimed more than 10,000 lives around the world.