· The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite closed at record highs on Friday as better-than-expected economic data offset a mixed batch of corporate earnings.
The S&P 500 climbed 0.5% to 2,939.88, an all-time closing high. The tech-heavy Nasdaq ended the day up 0.3% at 8,146.40. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 81.25 points to 26,543.33 and closed 1.5% below its all-time high.
First-quarter gross domestic product was 3.2%, the Commerce Department said on Friday, topping the consensus economist estimate of 2.5%, according to Dow Jones. An increase in exports drove the better-than-expected number.
· European stocks were slightly higher on Friday, as market participants reacted to another flurry of corporate earnings.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed provisionally up 0.19% during afternoon deals, with most sectors and major bourses in positive territory.
Europe’s media stocks led the gains, up 1.65% amid earnings news. Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES was the top performer, surging to the top of the European benchmark after the company said it had maintained its full-year outlook. Shares of the firm jumped 7.75%.
· Shares in the Asia Pacific region traded mixed on Monday morning, while markets in Japan are closed for a holiday.
In South Korea, the Kospi advanced 0.35%, with shares of industry heavyweight Samsung Electronics and chipmaker SK Hynix jumping more than 1% each.
The ASX 200 in Australia, on the other hand, slipped 0.2% as the sectors traded mixed.
· Japan is currently on a 10-day holiday from April 27 to May 6 to celebrate the enthronement of the country’s Crown Prince Naruhito.
Reference: CNBC
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