Global stock markets went different directions on Friday as investors weighed better-than-expected Chinese economic growth data, a eurozone interest-rate cut and strong US corporate earnings.
In New York, all three major indices on Wall Street finished higher Friday, as a strong string of earnings results helped drive the Dow and the S&P 500 to new all-time highs.
“Earnings was a big positive part of the story today,” Edward Jones senior investment strategist Angelo Kourkafas told AFP. “Technology stocks are the ones leading the gains and helping the S&P reach its sixth consecutive weekly gain.”
Netflix’s earnings results and positive reports on Apple’s iPhone sales in China were both “helping lift the tech space,” he continued, adding that there had also been some positive economic news from China to buoy investors.
Shares in the streaming giant closed up 11.1 percent after it announced it had gained 5.1 million additional paying subscribers …