US equities gain as nonfarm payrolls rises - 7.5.2018

SP 500 logs second straight weekly decline

US stocks ended solidly higher Friday buoyed by technology shares led by Apple rally. S&P 500 rose 1.3% to 2663.42. SP 500 slipped 0.2% for the week though. Dow Jones industrial average gained 1.4% to 24262.51. The Nasdaq composite rallied 1.7% to 7209.62. The dollar resumed strengthening as the number of new jobs created rose to 164,000 in April from 135,000 in March: 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, rose 0.2% to 92.576 and is rising currently. Stock indices futures indicate higher openings today.

European stocks log sixth straight weekly gain

European stocks rebounded Friday erasing most of previous day losses as euro turned lower against the dollar. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index gained 0.6%, ending 0.6% higher for the week. The British Pound’s accelerated the slide against the dollar. The DAX 30 outperformed rising 1% to 12819.60. France’s CAC 40 gained 0.3% and UK’s FTSE 100 advanced 0.9% to 7567.14. UK markets are closed for May Day holiday. Markets opened flat today.

Asian indices rise

Asian stock indices are mostly higher today. Nikkei ended little change at 22467.16 after four-day weekend despite yen slide against the dollar. Chinese stocks are higher: the Shanghai Composite Index is up 1.5% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is 0.2% higher. Australia’s All Ordinaries Index is up 0.4% as Australian dollar turned lower against the greenback.

Brent rises

Brent futures prices are extending gains today on Venezuela, Iran worries. Prices rallied Friday: Brent for July settlement rose 1.7% to close at $74.87 a barrel Friday.