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The Nasdaq jumped to the highest level in 15 years, nearly wiping out its losses since the end of the dot-com bubble. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index climbed 0.9 per cent to 2108.06, to its biggest weekly gain in six years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 168.62 points, or 0.9 per cent, to 18,127.65. Euro STOXX 50 rose 1.51pc, the FTSE 100 gained 0.86pc and closed above 7000 points for the first time. European stocks ended the week on a high with London's FTSE surging past the 7000 mark for the first time in history, after Greece pledged new reform plans and the EU offered two billion euros in emergency aid. The Nikkei 225 index, rose 83.66 points to finish Friday at 19,560.22, a fresh 15-year high, with car maker and bank shares lifting the market. The Euro strengthened against most major counterparts on Friday amid optimism Greece may win an infusion of bailout money as soon as next week. The common currency rose 1.5 per cent versus the US dollar as European Union leaders signaled they might be ready to release some funds so long as Greece can deliver an adequate package of reform measures. |
