US markets jump on hopes of good Black Friday sales

24 Nov 2012 Evaluate
US markets surged on Friday to end the holiday shortened week with significant gains. For the week, while the Dow advanced by 3.3 percent, the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 rose by 4 percent and 3.6 percent, respectively. The rally on Wall Street was induced with the bargain buying at reduced levels following the sell-off in the weeks following the US Presidential elections. Investors were also encouraged with the strength of the holiday shopping season on reports regarding the Black Friday crowds. A number of retailers opened their doors even earlier than usual this year in order to increase sales on what is already one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Black Friday - the day after Thanksgiving that signals the traditional start of retailers’ biggest selling period, and when they historically begin to turn profitable - actually began on Thursday this year with increasing numbers of merchants, including Wal-Mart Stores Inc. 
 
In Europe, the leaders gathered in Brussels to hammer out seven year budget beginning 2014 and are likely to meet again as early as February to settle wide difference in spending cuts proposed several countries. Rich countries, Germany, Sweden, Holland and UK are net contributors to the budget are seeking larger than agreed on a compromised budget plan and developing countries are seeking more spending on infrastructure. France, Poland, Greece and Italy are seeking smaller cuts in farm subsidies that are popular in home markets. On economic front, Germany’s Ifo business-climate index rose to 101.4 in November from 100 in October, beating expectations for a decline. The rise in November came after six successive declines and showed the German economy is holding up in the face of the euro-zone debt crisis, the Ifo Institute stated.
 
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 172.79 points, or 1.35 percent, to close at 13,009.70, the S&P 500 finished up by 18.12 points, or 1.30 percent at 1,409.15, while the Nasdaq ended higher by 40.30 points, or 1.38 percent to settle at 2,966.85.
 
Indian ADRs closed mostly in green on Friday, Dr. Reddy’s Lab was up 0.22%, Wipro was up 0.16% and Tata Communication was up 0.08%. On the other hand, ICICI Bank was down 0.58% and Tata Motors was down 0.35%.
 

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