Nasdaq Reaches New Record, Brent Crude Touches Highest Level Since December
April 24, 2015 8:54 am
An index of Asian shares rose to fresh seven-year highs on Friday, on track for a weekly gain after Nasdaq reached a new record, while the Dollar stuck to recent ranges after more lacklustre U.S. economic data. The Nasdaq Composite, the U.S. market index most closely associated with technology stocks, closed at an all-time high on Thursday, surpassing a 2000 record set just before the dotcom crash (5,056.06). The Dow closed 20 points higher at 18,058, the S&P500 gained 4 points to close at 2,112.
The Dollar was steady on the day at 119.54 Yen, below its overnight high of 120.10 Yen. The Greenback bought $1.0801 against the Euro, which was down about 0.2% on the day but above its overnight low of $1.0666, after rebounding on signs that Greece was making progress in securing fresh funds. Another notable mover was the Swiss Franc, which recovered almost all of the losses it suffered on Wednesday. The Dollar fell back to 0.9555 Francs, from 0.9715. The Euro dipped to 1.0334 Francs, from 1.0428.
Brent crude touched a high of $65.58 on Thursday, its highest since December, but was last down 0.5% on the day at $64.53 a barrel. U.S. crude was down about 0.7% at $57.36. Spot gold was slightly lower on the day at $1,191.40 an ounce, poised for its third straight weekly drop amid uncertainty over when the Fed will begin to hike rates
Pharmaceutical heavyweight AstraZeneca’s sales fell by a slightly less-than-expected 6% in the first quarter, hit by the launch of generic copies of its popular stomach acid pill Nexium in the vital U.S. market and the strong dollar. The stock was down just under 1% in early trade at 4780p per share.
An index of Asian shares rose to fresh seven-year highs on Friday, on track for a weekly gain after Nasdaq reached a new record, while the Dollar stuck to recent ranges after more lacklustre U.S. economic data. The Nasdaq Composite, the U.S. market index most closely associated with technology stocks, closed at an all-time high on Thursday, surpassing a 2000 record set just before the dotcom crash (5,056.06). The Dow closed 20 points higher at 18,058, the S&P500 gained 4 points to close at 2,112.
The Dollar was steady on the day at 119.54 Yen, below its overnight high of 120.10 Yen. The Greenback bought $1.0801 against the Euro, which was down about 0.2% on the day but above its overnight low of $1.0666, after rebounding on signs that Greece was making progress in securing fresh funds. Another notable mover was the Swiss Franc, which recovered almost all of the losses it suffered on Wednesday. The Dollar fell back to 0.9555 Francs, from 0.9715. The Euro dipped to 1.0334 Francs, from 1.0428.
Brent crude touched a high of $65.58 on Thursday, its highest since December, but was last down 0.5% on the day at $64.53 a barrel. U.S. crude was down about 0.7% at $57.36. Spot gold was slightly lower on the day at $1,191.40 an ounce, poised for its third straight weekly drop amid uncertainty over when the Fed will begin to hike rates
Pharmaceutical heavyweight AstraZeneca’s sales fell by a slightly less-than-expected 6% in the first quarter, hit by the launch of generic copies of its popular stomach acid pill Nexium in the vital U.S. market and the strong dollar. The stock was down just under 1% in early trade at 4780p per share.
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