Global markets fared better than the United States in many cases, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 rallying a full 5.2% this week and Germany’s DAX improving 1.92%. Outside of Europe and Asia, the Australian ASX 200 increased 1.5% and the MSCI Brazil Index in Latin America remained roughly even. While many of these gains were made on the heels of positive U.S. economic news, progress in the eurozone has also spurred hope ...
...Commentary
The U.S. markets reached new highs this week, with the Dow Jones surpassing the 15,000 milestone. Small-cap equities led the rally, with the Russell 2000 jumping 1.93%, while the Dow Jones Industrial average moved just 0.78% higher during the week. These gains were largely spurred by consumer spending that jumped 0.2% in March, jobless claims that fell to 323,000 last week and the Federal Reserve’s ongoing commitment to cheap capital.