Markets rise, US COVID-19 cases pass 15 million

Markets were mostly higher on Tuesday.

The S&P 500 rose 0.3 percent to a record high and the STOXX Europe 600 rose 0.2 percent. However, the Nikkei 225 fell 0.3 percent.

Even as US COVID-19 cases passed 15 million, investors were encouraged by more positive news on vaccines and fiscal stimulus talks.

“As a whole, there are reasons to be optimistic,” said Matt Lloyd, chief investment strategist at Advisors Asset Management.