Two-day rally | How many unemployment claims? | Negative rates are here

Stocks rose sharply higher for second day, but more bad news is on its way.

VIEW IN BROWSER | SUBSCRIBE WED, MAR 25, 2020 EVENING BRIEF AS OF WED, MAR 25, 2020 • 05:01 ET DJIA 21200.55 +2.39% +495.64 S&P 500 2475.56 +1.15% +28.23 NASDAQ 7384.29 -0.45% -33.56   Most Active DOW NAME LAST CHG %CHG BA 158.73 +31.05 +24.32% AAPL 245.52 -1.36 -0.55% MSFT 146.92 -1.42 -0.96% S&P 500 NAME LAST CHG %CHG F 5.39 +0.44 +8.89% BAC 21.10 +0.07 +0.33% GE 7.56 +0.55 +7.85% NASDAQ NAME LAST CHG %CHG AAL 15.39 +1.47 +10.56% AMD 44.63 -1.59 -3.44% AAPL 245.52 -1.36 -0.55% EDITOR'S NOTE Stocks rallied Wednesday, notching back-to-back winning sessions that accelerated hopes for a bottom to this bear market.   Congress agreed to a $2 trillion stimulus bill and long-beleaguered Boeing led the Dow Jones Industrial Average higher as its stock soared as much as 30% on hopes for a federal bailout.   Late in the session, Sen. Bernie Sanders threatened to hold up the bill, addressing what he called a "$500 billion corporate welfare fund." His threat took stocks well off their highs of the day.   On Thursday we'll get more bad news. CNBC's Patti Domm writes that we are facing the biggest layoff of American workers ever - at least in so short a time. Estimates for the number of unemployment claims that we'll see at 8:30 a.m. ET range between 1 million and 4 million.   "This shouldn't be an economic figure that sends the stock market plummeting." said Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist at MUFG Union Bank.  "Most economists have already written off the second quarter as 'Great Depression' style economic growth."   The numbers will at least give investors an initial glance at the depths of the economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic, and in a fast-changing global crisis they will shape economic forecasts going forward.   "It will be closely watched as a measure of how violent the shutdowns have been to the labor market," said Jon Hill, fixed income strategist at BMO.   Subscribe to CNBC PRO for exclusive insights and analysis, and live business day programming from around the world. Al Lewis | CNBC Markets Editor @tellittoal TOP NEWS  Dow jumps more than 2%, posts first back-to-back gain since February Jobless claims expected to spike to a record-breaking number in the millions Negative rates come to the US: 1-month and 3-month Treasury bill yields are now below zero Sanders' fight with GOP senators over unemployment aid threatens to delay coronavirus stimulus Coronavirus is 'Public Enemy No 1': WHO chief warns final death toll depends on future actions Track the latest coronavirus updates here Private equity eyes industries crippled by coronavirus: 'They have been waiting for this' Bill Ackman exits market hedges, uses $2 billion he made to buy more stocks including Hilton Congress likely to send taxpayers $1,200 checks in coronavirus aid. Here's who qualifies Former Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke sees 'very sharp' recession, followed by 'fairly quick' rebound     TOP VIDEO CNBC's full interview with former Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke on coronavirus impact   CNBC PRO Stay-at-home trend creates buying opportunities for tech survivors and 'bounce-back' stocks, says William Blair   SPECIAL REPORTS One hotel stock is best equipped to weather the coronavirus crisis, trader says Tesla and one other auto stock are good bets as the group rebounds, traders say   Unsubscribe Manage Newsletters Terms of Service Join the CNBC Panel Digital Products Feedback Privacy Policy   © 2020 CNBC LLC. All rights reserved. A property of NBCUniversal. 900 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes and Market Data and Analysis. Data also provided by THOMSON REUTERS