The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq opened higher on Wall Street today after March inflation data largely aligned with expectations despite persistent pressures from the Iran war, while investors assessed the stability of the ceasefire.
The Dow Jones inched 13 points (0.03%) higher at the open to stand at 48,199,, while the S&P 500 rose 14 points (0.21%) to trade at 6,839 and the Nasdaq Composite rose 91 points (0.4%) to reach 22,914 at the opening bell.
European stocks continued to advance this afternoon - and were on track for their third weekly gain in a row - after Israel said it had sought talks with Lebanon, raising hopes for a break in Middle East hostilities and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
London's FTSE index had gained 36 points (0.3%) to stand at 10,640 by 2.40pm, while the Paris CAC was up 46 points (0.5%) to trade at 8,292 and the Frankfurt DAX climbed 169 points (0.7%) to reach 23,976.
Dublin's ISEQ index was also higher this afternoon, adding 158 points (1.2%) to hit 12,813. Shares in Kingspan jumped 2.9% to stand at €77.75, while Uniphar was up 2.3% to trade at €3.96. Shares in Cairn Homes gained 2% to hit €2.22 and Ryanair rose 2% to reach €26.38.
Earlier in Asian trade, Tokyo's Nikkei index gained 1,029 points (1.8%) to close at 56,924, capping its steepest weekly advance in more than a year, as optimism over corporate earnings and technology investment outweighed concerns about a fragile ceasefire in the Middle East.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose 116 points (0.4%) to finish at 25,869 underpinned by accelerating Chinese inflation that signalled an end to entrenched industrial deflation.
