WASHINGTON (voa) – U.S. stocks remain higher in afternoon trading – on growing optimism the economic recovery will boost profits in the months ahead.
The Dow Jones Industrial average is up 149 points (more than 1 percent) at 10,518 – its highest level in seven months. The broad market indicator – the S&P 500 – is up 15 points (more than 1 percent) at 1,147. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index is 38 points (more than 2 percent) higher at 1,840.
In London, the Financial Times 100 share Index ended the day up 73 points (more than 1 percent) at 5,242, while in Paris the Cac 40 Index was up 121 points (nearly 3 percent) at 4,607. The Dax-Index in Frankfurt is 153 points (3 percent) higher at 5,250, in late trading.
Earlier in Tokyo, the Nikkei Index rose 638 points (nearly 6 percent) – its biggest gain in almost a year – to close at 11,450. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index picked up 279 points (nearly 3 percent) to end the day at 10,704.
The price of gold closed in London at $297.40 an ounce – up $2.
The dollar has turned lower against the other major currencies.
