NEW YORK, New York – An outbreak of buying of technology stocks boosted share markets in the U.S. on Friday with all the major indices posting strong gains.

“In the wake of stronger than expected GDP, and a better-than-expected earnings season, this could be the catalyst to send the market to new highs,” Gina Bolvin, president of Bolvin Wealth Management Group said in a note circulated to clients on Friday.

The Nasdaq Composite surged 266.55 points or 1.90 percent to 14,316.66. Share volume rose to 3.605 billion.

The Dow Jones industrials gained 176.57 points or 0.50 percent to 35,459.29. 362.11 million shares changed hands.

The Standard and Poor’s 500 rose 44.82 points or 0.99 percent to 4,582.23. 2.321 billion shares were traded.

The NYSE Composite (DJ) index in the United States recorded a positive performance, closing at 16,363.26, rising by 92.66 points or 0.57 percent.

The NYSE AMEX Composite Index (XAX) also saw substantial gains, closing at 4,354.70, marking an increase of 88.38 points or 2.07 percent.

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) had an interesting day, closing at 13.33, indicating a decrease of 1.08 points or 7.49 percent. This decline in volatility could potentially signal increased confidence among investors.

Closing World Foreign Exchange Market Quotes for Friday

In world foreign exchange markets on Friday, major currency pairs saw some notable movements, with traders closely monitoring economic developments and geopolitical events.

EUR/USD (Euro/U.S. Dollar): The euro recorded a gain against the U.S. Dollar, with the exchange rate closing at 1.1024. This marked a positive change of 0.45 percent, representing an increase of 0.00489 compared to the previous trading session.

USD/JPY (U.S. Dollar/Japanese Yen): The dollar sharply appreciated against the Japanese yen, reaching a closing rate of 141.01. This impressive surge of 1.14 percent translated to a rise of 1.590 from the previous day’s level.

USD/CAD (U.S Dollar/Canadian Dollar): The U.S. Dollar saw a modest uptick versus the Canadian dollar, with the exchange rate finishing at 1.3235. The change of 0.09 percent amounted to an increase of 0.00123 compared to the last trading session.

GBP/USD (British Pound/U.S. Dollar): The British Pound made gains against the greenback Friday, closing at 1.2858. The percentage change of 0.49 percent equated to a rise of 0.00626 from the previous day’s rate.

USD/CHF (U.S. Dollar/Swiss Franc): The dollar experienced a slight appreciation against the Swiss Franc, with the exchange rate settling at 0.8691. This represented a minimal increase of 0.04 percent or 0.00034 from the previous trading session.

AUD/USD (Australian Dollar/U.S. Dollar): The Australian oldlar depreciated against its U.S. counterpart, recording a closing rate of 0.6654. The percentage change of 0.82 percent accounted for a decrease of 0.00549 compared to the last trading session.

NZD/USD (New Zealand Dollar/U.S. Dollar): The New Zealand dollar also faced a decline against the U.S. dollar, with the exchange rate closing at 0.6159. The percentage change of 0.38 percent resulted in a decrease of 0.00232 from the previous day’s rate.

Friday’s World Stock Market Closing Quotes: Markets Show Mixed Performance

On Friday, global stock markets witnessed a mixed bag of performances, with some indices posting marginal gains while others experienced slight declines. Investors kept a close eye on various economic indicators and geopolitical developments that influenced market sentiments.

In Canada, the S&P/TSX Composite jumped 133.90 points or 0.66 percent to 20,519.37. Trading volume was 201.28 million shares.

In London, the FTSE 100 index showed resilience, closing at 7,694.27, registering a modest increase of 1.51 points, which amounted to a 0.02 percent rise.

In the Eurozone, the ESTX 50 PR.EUR index concluded at 4,466.50, marking an increase of 19.06 points or 0.43 percent. However, the Euronext 100 Index experienced a slight dip, closing at 1,400.61, down by 0.87 points or 0.06 percent.

The DAX PERFORMANCE-INDEX in Germany concluded at 16,469.75 Friday, reflecting a gain of 63.72 points or 0.39 percent. Meanwhile, the CAC 40 in France ended at 7,476.47, up by 11.23 points or 0.15 percent.

The BEL 20 in Belgium struggled, ending at 3,788.39, with a decline of 14.26 points or 0.38 percent. Russia’s MOEX Russia Index also faced a small setback, closing at 2,222.51, down by 4.14 points or 0.19 percent.

On Asian markets, the Nikkei 225 in Japan faced a slight setback, closing at 32,759.23, down by 131.93 points or 0.40 percent. In contrast, the HANG SENG INDEX in Hong Kong recorded a notable surge, finishing at 19,916.56, with an impressive gain of 277.45 points or 1.41 percent.

China’s SSE Composite Index closed on a positive note at 3,275.93, showing a rise of 59.25 points or 1.84 percent, with a total trade volume of 2.452 billion shares. Similarly, the Shenzhen Index in China ended at 11,100.40, with an increase of 176.62 points or 1.62 percent, and a total trade volume of 1.819 billion shares.

In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 index struggled Friday, closing at 7,403.60, down by 52.30 points or 0.70 percent.

India’s NIFTY 50 index closed at 19,646.05, experiencing a slight decline of 13.85 points or 0.07 percent, while the S&P BSE Sensex closed at 66,160.20, showing a decrease of 106.62 points or 0.16 percent.

In Singapore, the STI Index showcased a positive performance, concluding at 3,371.17, with an increase of 33.75 points or 1.01 percent. However, in New Zealand, the S&P/NZX 50 INDEX GROSS finished at 11,946.74, registering a decline of 7.37 points or 0.06 percent.

In South Korea, the KOSPI Composite Index ended at 2,608.32, showing a gain of 4.51 points or 0.17 percent, with a total trading volume of 503,267. Taiwan’s TSEC weighted index also recorded an increase, closing at 17,292.93, with a rise of 51.11 points or 0.30 percent.

In the Middle East on Friday, the TA-125 in Israel maintained stability, closing at 1,861.85 points, remaining unchanged with a zero percent change. In Egypt, the EGX 30 Price Return Index finished at 17,339.10, down by 57.10 points or 0.33 percent, with a traded volume of 75.722 million.

On the other hand, in Africa, South Africa’s Top 40 USD Net TRI Index showed a positive trend, finishing at 4,458.29, with a gain of 36.80 points or 0.83 percent.

In Latin America, the MXX IPC Mexico added 181.00 points or 0.33 percent to 54,934.39. In Brazil, the IBOVESPA wrapped up the day at 120,187.11, witnessing an increase of 197.47 points or 0.16 percent.

The global stock market’s performance on Friday showcased the ongoing complexities and uncertainties that continue to impact different economies worldwide. Investors and analysts will be closely monitoring the market next week for any significant developments that may influence trading patterns.

(Photo credit – Big News Network News Agency).