US equity markets finished higher on Friday, driven by cautious optimism surrounding potential trade deals. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 44,902 points, a 0.5% increase from the previous day’s close.
The broader S&P 500 reached approximately 6,389 points, up 0.4%, while the Nasdaq 100 was valued around 23,272 points, marking a 0.2% gain. Notably, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 both achieved new all-time highs during the trading session.
Investor sentiment remains influenced by the looming deadline of August 1st, set by the US President for trade negotiations. An agreement reached with Japan earlier in the week was initially viewed positively. However, recent reports indicate ongoing disagreements between the two nations, casting some doubt on the finalized terms. The President has publicly assessed that the probability of a trade deal with Europe as being roughly even.
The Euro weakened slightly against the US Dollar, trading at $1.1744 per Euro. Conversely, the US Dollar was valued at €0.8515.
Gold prices experienced a downturn, settling at $3,338 per fine ounce, a decrease of 0.9%, which translates to €91.39 per gram.
Oil prices also declined significantly. Brent crude, a benchmark grade of North Sea oil, closed at $68.39 per barrel, representing a decrease of $0.79, or 1.1%, compared to the previous day’s closing price.
