SP 500, Nasdaq end at record highs
US stocks ended higher on Friday on strong quarterly results from technology giants. The dollar strengthened as Q3 GDP grew at above-expected 3%: the live dollar index data show the ICE US Dollar index, a measure of the dollar’s strength against a basket of six rival currencies, added 0.3% to 94.88. S&P 500 gained 0.8% to record high 2581.07 led by technology shares, up 2.9%. The US broad market index added 0.2% for the week. Dow Jones industrial average added 0.1% to 23434.19. The Nasdaq composite jumped 2.2% to all-time high 6629.05.
European stocks advance
European stocks closed higher on Friday with market sentiment supported by positive reports. The euro and British Pound extended losses against the dollar as Catalonia parliament declared independence and Madrid ousted Catalonia’s President Carles Puigdemont and dissolved his government. The Stoxx Europe 600 index ended the session up 0.6%, posting 0.9% gain for the week. The DAX 30 rose 0.6% to 13217.54. France’s CAC 40 outperformed gaining 0.7% and UK’s FTSE 100 added 0.3% to 7505.03. Indices opened mixed today.
Asian indices mixed
Asian stock indices are mixed today. Nikkei ended flat at 22011.67 with yen little changed against the dollar. Chinese stocks are lower on concerns about bond market: the Shanghai Composite Index is down 0.8% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is 0.2% lower. Australia’s All Ordinaries Index is up 0.2% despite a stronger Australian dollar against the greenback.
Oil rally continues
Oil futures prices are higher today on talk major producers’ production cut deal led by OPEC could be extended after March, current expiration date. Prices rose Friday: December Brent jumped 1.9% to $60.44 a barrel, gaining 4.7% for the week.