US Markets ended higher on Friday after strong corporate results from Microsoft (MSFT) and Procter & Gamble (PG) and reduced concerns over the possible spread of Ebola. The shares of Microsoft surged up by 2.5 percent after the software giant reported fiscal first quarter results that beat expectations, while Consumer products giant P&G also jumped by 2.3 percent after reporting fiscal first quarter results that came in line with analyst estimates. With Microsoft helping to lead the way higher, software stocks showed a particularly strong move to the upside on the day.
On the economic front, the Commerce Department released a report showing that U.S. new home sales ticked higher in September but from a significantly downwardly revised level in August. The report said new home sales inched up 0.2 percent to an annual rate of 467,000 in September from the revised August rate of 466,000. The street had been expecting new home sales to drop to a rate of 460,000 from the 504,000 originally reported for the previous month. Meanwhile, investors were eying the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy meeting to be held next week, with the central bank widely expected to wrap up its asset purchase program. Traders were also likely to keep an eye on reports on durable goods orders, third quarter GDP and personal income and spending.
Dow Jones Industrial Average added 127.51 points or 0.76 percent to 16,805.41, Nasdaq was up by 30.92 points or 0.69 percent to 4,483.72, while S&P 500 ended higher by 13.76 points or 0.71 percent to 1,964.58.
The Indian ADRs closed in green on Friday; Dr. Reddy’s Lab was up 0.58%, HDFC Bank was up by 0.21%, Tata Motors was up 0.15%, ICICI Bank was up 0.06%and Wipro was up by 0.04%.
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