03:57 PM EDT, 03/24/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US benchmark equity indexes ended higher Monday as markets tracked tariff updates and a survey that showed a surprise acceleration in private-sector output growth.

* The Trump administration is expected to exclude a set of sector-specific tariffs while applying reciprocal tariffs on April 2, media outlets reported over the weekend.

Meanwhile, the White House will announce tariffs on automobiles "very shortly" and on pharmaceuticals "at some point in the not too distant future," Bloomberg News reported Monday, citing President Donald Trump.

* US private-sector output growth unexpectedly accelerated in March, while the year-ahead outlook deteriorated amid tariff concerns, according to S&P Global's ( SPGI ) flash purchasing managers' index.

"A welcome upturn in service sector activity in March has helped propel stronger economic growth at the end of the first quarter," S&P Global Market Intelligence Chief Business Economist Chris Williamson said. "A key concern over tariffs is the impact on inflation, with the March survey indicating a further sharp rise in costs as suppliers pass tariff-related price hikes on to US companies."

* May West Texas Intermediate crude oil closed up $0.93 to settle at $69.21 per barrel, while May Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up $0.96 to $73.12 as traders assessed new sanctions imposed on Iranian exports last week by the United States, while U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose 25% levies on imports from any country that imports oil from Venezuela.

* Boeing's ( BA ) first-half aircraft deliveries are expected to benefit from higher inventory levels, while management's recent positive comments on free cash flow prompted RBC Capital Markets to raise its FCF estimates for the plane maker. Boeing ( BA ) shares were up 1.7%.

* James Hardie Industries ( JHX ) agreed to acquire outdoor home products firm Azek ( AZEK ) in a cash and stock deal worth about $8.75 billion, including debt, as it looks to offer more exterior building options to homeowners and contractors.

James Hardie's US-listed shares tumbled nearly 18%, while Azek ( AZEK ) jumped 17%.

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