Strong Earnings Keep Markets Moving

Positive quarterly earnings reports continued to rally the US equity markets Friday, with results from Dow components Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Procter & Gamble further boosting the benchmark indexes.  New home sales data came in slightly below economist expectations, but remained at six-year highs, fueling investor optimism.

Market Radar - % Change

After Thursday’s rebound, Nymex Crude Oil resumed its slide, falling 1.08% to settle at $81.01 per barrel, down $1.32. Gold prices got a small bump, gaining $2.7 or 0.22% to settle at $1,231.8 per ounce.

The major benchmark added to yesterday’s rally, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:DJI) climbing 127.51 points to close at 16,805.41, up 0.76%.  The S&P 500 (INDEXSP:GSPC) gained 0.70% to close at 1,964.57, up 13.75 points.

The NASDAQ Composite (NASDAQ:IXIC) climbed 30.93 points or 0.69% to close at 4,483.72, while the NASDAQ 100 was up 0.74% or 29.75 points closing at 4,042.02.

The Small cap Russell 2000 climbed 2.33 points to close at 1,118.82 up 0.61%.  The Fox 50 closed at 1,388.28 after gaining 8.43 points or 0.61%.