Nasdaq Today: United Airlines Stock Rockets Higher; Reopening Hopes Help Marriott

Stock market investors were pleased on Monday at the prospect of businesses starting to reopen in many states, lifting major market benchmarks. The Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^IXIC) didn't see quite the same level of gains as broader measures like the S&P 500, but it was still higher by about 2.4% as of noon EDT today. The Nasdaq 100 Index was higher by just under 2%.

Good news from the healthcare front in the fight toward developing a coronavirus vaccine helped lift several pharmaceutical and biotech companies within the Nasdaq. But some of the best performers were those hit hardest by the economic fallout from the pandemic. United Airlines Holdings (NASDAQ: UAL) led the Nasdaq 100 with a rise of 18%, while Marriott (NASDAQ: MAR) wasn't far behind with its 14% gain.

United wasn't the only airline stock to perform well Monday, but it was among the top performers in the space. Part of that stems from the unique challenges that United has had to overcome, and investors hope that any return to more-normal conditions will come as quickly as possible for the airline.