US equity markets closed higher on Friday, buoyed by ongoing speculation surrounding potential trade agreements. The Dow Jones Industrial Average reached 44,902 points at the close of trading in New York, marking a 0.5% increase compared to the previous day.
The broader S&P 500 stood at approximately 6,389 points, up 0.4%, while the Nasdaq 100 was calculated at around 23,272 points, recording a 0.2% gain. Notably, the latter two indices achieved new all-time highs during the trading session.
Investor sentiment remains influenced by the expectation of trade deals before a deadline set by the US President, currently set for August 1st. An agreement reached with Japan earlier this week was initially received positively. However, recent media reports suggest disagreements between the US and Japan are already surfacing, casting some uncertainty on the deal’s ultimate outcome. The President has publicly estimated the likelihood of a trade agreement with Europe as approximately 50%.
The euro weakened slightly against the US dollar, trading at $1.1744, corresponding to a dollar value of €0.8515.
Gold experienced a decline, with the spot price of one fine ounce falling to $3,338 (-0.9%). This equates to a price of €91.39 per gram.
Crude oil prices also retreated significantly. Brent crude, a benchmark variety from the North Sea, was priced at $68.39 per barrel, a decrease of 79 cents or 1.1% compared to the previous day’s closing price.