The US stock markets ended the day on a positive note, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing at 43,387 points, a 0.9 percent increase from the previous trading day. The Nasdaq 100 also rose, finishing the day at 22,447 points, a 0.9 percent gain, while the S&P 500 index closed at 6,141 points, a 0.8 percent increase.
Market participants are increasingly focused on the debate over interest rates, fueled by criticism of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell by US President Donald Trump. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Trump may announce Powell’s successor as early as September or October, despite the chairman’s term not expiring until May 2026. This has led to increased hopes among investors that interest rates may decline sooner than expected.
In foreign exchange markets, the euro was stronger against the US dollar, with one euro equivalent to 1.1705 US dollars and one US dollar worth 0.8543 euros. The price of gold eased slightly, with one ounce selling for 3,331 US dollars, or 91.50 euros per gram, a 0.1 percent decrease.
Oil prices, however, rose, with a barrel of Brent crude trading at 67.95 US dollars, a 0.4 percent increase from the previous day’s close.