US stocks rise posting monthly gains - 10.2

SP 500 and Nasdaq end at record highs

US stocks closed at record high on Friday with three main indexes posting monthly gains. The dollar weakened: 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, inched down 0.1% to 93.048. S&P 500 rose 0.4% to all time high 2519.36. Dow Jones industrial average finished 0.1% higher at 22405.09. The Nasdaq composite index outperformed jumping 0.7 % to record high 6495.96.

European stocks advance led by bank shares

European stocks advanced on Friday on positive data. The euro extended gains against the dollar while British Pound slipped. The Stoxx Europe 600 index ended the session up 0.5% led by bank stocks. The DAX 30 jumped 1% to 12828.86 helped by job market report showing unemployment in Germany fell to a record low 5.6% in September. France’s CAC 40 ended 0.7% higher despite unexpected 0.3% decline in consumer spending in August and UK’s FTSE 100 rose 0.7% to 7372.76 while second quarter GDP was downgraded to 1.5% from 1.7%. Indices opened 0.1% - 0.3% higher today.

Asian markets up on strong Chinese data

Asian stock indices are higher today on strong economic data from China. Nikkei added 0.2% to 20400.78 today as dollar advanced against the yen supporting exporter stocks and “tankan” survey showed big domestic manufacturers sentiment reached a decade high. Chinese industrial activity survey indicated official manufacturing purchasing managers index increased to 52.4 in September its highest level since May 2012, from 51.7 in August. Markets in China are closed for a weeklong holiday, which will likely negatively affect trading in commodity markets. Australia’s All Ordinaries Index is up 0.8% supported by a weaker Australian dollar against the greenback.

Oil lower

Oil futures prices are falling today in light of a Reuters report of higher OPEC crude oil output in September. Oil output from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries rose 50 thousand barrels per day last month, according to a Reuters survey. November Brent ended 0.2% higher at $57.54 a barrel on Friday, gaining 1.1% for the week.