NEW YORK, New York – U.S. stocks extended their rally on Friday despite remarks by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell who indicated interest rates ahead are not a foregone conclusion, but rather rates will remain high and further hikes are not out of the question.

“There’s a trifecta of drivers here. The first is the inflation. Second is the Fed seeming like it may be stepping to the sidelines, and then third is this cooling in the economy that is starting to unfold, but at a very gradual pace,” Mona Mahajan, senior investment strategist at Edward Jones told CNBC Friday.

“It’s almost like a Goldilocks cooling. It’s too hot. It’s not too cold. And that’s exactly what markets are embracing.”

In a week marked by various economic indicators and global events, Friday’s closing stock market quotes revealed positive gains across major indexes.

S&P 500 (^GSPC)

• Closing Value: 4,594.63
• Change: +26.83
• Percent Change: +0.59 percent
• Trading Volume: 2.489 billion shares

The S&P 500, representing a broad spectrum of the U.S. stock market, closed at 4,594.63, reflecting a modest increase of 26.83 points, or 0.59 percent. The total trading volume for the day amounted to 2.489 billion shares.

Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI)

• Closing Value: 36,245.50
• Change: +294.61
• Percent Change: +0.82 percent
• Trading Volume: 319.258 million shares

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 36,245.50, posting a robust gain of 294.61 points, equivalent to a positive change of 0.82 percent. The day’s trading activity saw a volume of 319.258 million shares.

NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC)

• Closing Value: 14,305.03
• Change: +78.81
• Percent Change: +0.55 percent
• Trading Volume: 4.992 billion shares

The NASDAQ Composite, heavily weighted toward technology and growth stocks, closed at 14,305.03, with an increase of 78.81 points or 0.55 percent. The total trading volume for the day was 4.992 billion shares.

Global Forex Markets Report – Friday’s Currency Exchange Rates

In the ever-dynamic world of foreign exchange, Friday witnessed notable movements across major currency pairs. Traders and investors closely monitored the following exchange rates:

EUR/USD (Euro / US Dollar)

• Exchange Rate: 1.0875
• Change: -0.08% decrease
• Change in Value: -0.0009

The euro experienced a marginal dip against the U.S. Dollar, reflecting a decrease of 0.08 percent, equivalent to a value reduction of 0.0009.

USD/JPY (US Dollar / Japanese Yen)

• Exchange Rate: 146.810
• Change: -0.93% decrease
• Change in Value: -1.372

The dollar faced a significant decline against the Japanese Yen, registering a 0.93 percent decrease, equivalent to a value reduction of 1.37.

USD/CAD (US Dollar / Canadian Dollar)

• Exchange Rate: 1.34948
• Change: -0.49% decrease
• Change in Value: -0.00659

The greenback also experienced a modest decrease against the Canadian Dollar, with a 0.49 percent drop and a value reduction of 0.0065.

GBP/USD (British Pound / US Dollar)

• Exchange Rate: 1.27048
• Change: +0.65% increase
• Change in Value: +0.00817

The British Pound strengthened too against the dollar, marking a 0.65 percent increase and a value gain of 0.0081.

USD/CHF (US Dollar / Swiss Franc)

• Exchange Rate: 0.86898
• Change: -0.70% decrease
• Change in Value: -0.00615

The U.S. dollar exhibited a decline against the Swiss franc, recording a 0.70 percent decrease and a value reduction of 0.0061.

AUD/USD (Australian Dollar / US Dollar)

• Exchange Rate: 0.66744
• Change: +1.06% increase
• Change in Value: +0.00702

The Australian dollar saw a notable uptick, reflecting a 1.06 percent increase and a value gain of 0.0070.

NZD/USD (New Zealand Dollar / US Dollar)

• Exchange Rate: 0.62041
• Change: +0.83% increase

The New Zealand Dollar strengthened against the US Ddollar, marking a 0.83 percent increase.

Global Stock Markets Wrap-Up for Friday: Mixed Results as Indices React to Various Factors

In a day of mixed performances across global stock markets on Friday, major indices experienced varied movements, with some posting gains while others faced losses. Here’s a snapshot of the closing stock market quotes for key indices:

CANADA

S&P/TSX Composite Index (^GSPTSE)

• Closing Value: 20,452.87
• Change: +216.58
• Percent Change: +1.07 percent
• Trading Volume: 227.248 million shares

In the Canadian market, the S&P/TSX Composite Index closed at 20,452.87, showing a substantial gain of 216.58 points or 1.07 percent. The trading volume for the day reached 227.248 million shares.

UNITED KINGDOM

FTSE 100 (^FTSE):

• Closing Value: 7,529.35
• Change: +75.60
• Percent Change: +1.01 percent

EUROPE

DAX PERFORMANCE-INDEX (^GDAXI):

• Closing Value: 16,397.52
• Change: +182.09
• Percent Change: +1.12 percent

CAC 40 (^FCHI):

• Closing Value: 7,346.15
• Change: +35.38
• Percent Change: +0.48 percent

ESTX 50 PR.EUR (^STOXX50E):

• Closing Value: 4,418.51
• Change: +36.04
• Percent Change: +0.82 percent

Euronext 100 Index (^N100):

• Closing Value: 1,367.83
• Change: +10.39
• Percent Change: +0.77 percent

BEL 20 (^BFX):

• Closing Value: 3,578.91
• Change: +49.89
• Percent Change: +1.41 percent

RUSSIA

MOEX Russia Index (IMOEX.ME):

• Closing Value: 2,222.51
• Change: -4.14
• Percent Change: -0.19 percent

ASIA

Nikkei 225 (^N225):

• Closing Value: 33,431.51
• Change: -55.38
• Percent Change: -0.17 percent

HANG SENG INDEX (^HSI):

• Closing Value: 16,830.30
• Change: -212.58
• Percent Change: -1.25 percent

SSE Composite Index (000001.SS):

• Closing Value: 3,031.64
• Change: +1.96
• Percent Change: +0.06 percent

Shenzhen Index (399001.SZ):

• Closing Value: 9,720.57
• Change: -6.34
• Percent Change: -0.07 percent

STI Index (^STI):

• Closing Value: 3,090.31
• Change: +17.32
• Percent Change: +0.56 percent

ALL ORDINARIES (^AORD):

• Closing Value: 7,285.10
• Change: -12.60
• Percent Change: -0.17 percent

S&P BSE SENSEX (^BSESN):

• Closing Value: 67,481.19
• Change: +492.75
• Percent Change: +0.74 percent

NIFTY 50 (^NSEI):

• Closing Value: 20,267.90
• Change: +134.75
• Percent Change: +0.67 percent

IDX COMPOSITE (^JKSE):

• Closing Value: 7,059.91
• Change: -20.84
• Percent Change: -0.29 percent

FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (^KLSE):

• Closing Value: 1,456.38
• Change: +3.64
• Percent Change: +0.25 percent

S&P/NZX 50 INDEX GROSS (^NZ50):

• Closing Value: 11,367.51
• Change: +37.31
• Percent Change: +0.33 percent

KOSPI Composite Index (^KS11):

• Closing Value: 2,505.01
• Change: -30.28
• Percent Change: -1.19 percent

TSEC weighted index (^TWII):

• Closing Value: 17,438.35
• Change: +4.50
• Percent Change: +0.03 percent

OCEANIA

S&P/ASX 200 (^AXJO):

• Closing Value: 7,073.20
• Change: -14.10
• Percent Change: -0.20 percent

AFRICA

Top 40 USD Net TRI Index (^JN0U.JO):

• Closing Value: 4,020.83
• Change: +70.10
• Percent Change: +1.77 percent