A roundup of trading on major world markets:
NEW YORK – Wall Street shares closed higher on Friday, buoyed by better than expected US earnings, solid German business confidence data and a $430 billion deal to fight Europe’s debt crisis.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 65.16 points or 0.5 per cent to 13,029.26 by the close of trade.
The S&P 500 was up 1.6 points, or 0.1 per cent to 1,378.53 points.
However the Nasdaq fell 7.11 points, or 0.2 per cent to 3,000.45 as Apple shares sank 2.5 per cent.
LONDON – European stock markets and the euro were firmer after solid business confidence data from Germany and as investors looked ahead to a key IMF meeting and weekend French elections.
In afternoon deals, London’s FTSE 100 index gained 0.33 per cent to 5,763.55 points, Frankfurt’s DAX 30 climbed 0.91 percent to 6,731.96 points and in Paris the CAC 40 advanced 0.13 per cent in choppy trading to 3,178.74 points.
Madrid rallied 1.21 per cent and Milan 0.40 per cent.
In foreign exchange trading, the euro firmed to $US1.3191 from $US1.3134 in New York late Thursday.
HONG KONG – Asian markets came under pressure as a successful bond auction in Spain failed to raise spirits while weak US economic data also added to the general sense of pessimism.
The euro was supported by comments from International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde and Japan Finance Minister Jun Azumi who both said the IMF would achieve its goal of raising enough cash for a firewall against future debt crises.
Tokyo fell 0.28 per cent, or 27.02 points, to 9,561.36, Seoul shed 1.26 per cent, or 25.21 points, to 1,974.65 and Sydney ended flat, edging up 3.8 points to 4,366.5.
Hong Kong ended flat, adding 15.63 points to 21,010.64 while Shanghai closed 1.19 per cent, or 28.23 points, higher at 2,406.86 on hopes China will announce monetary easing measures soon after comments to that effect from a central bank official this week.
WELLINGTON – The NZX 50 Index fell 8.95 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 3,516.23.
Within the index, 24 stocks fell, 20 rose and six were unchanged. Turnover was $65.5 million, making it one of the lightest trading days this month.
