Major US stock indexes rose across the board on
Friday for a second day, buoyed by a leading consumer index that
holds the prospect of increased household spending.
The private Conference Board's index of leading economic
indicators rose 0.4 per cent in July after declining by the same
amount a month earlier.
Apple shares rose 1.9 per cent, pushing the company's market
value above 600 billion dollars, after a report that it had started
production of the iPad mini, Bloomberg news agency said.
The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 25.09 points, or
0.19 per cent, to 13,275.20. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 Index
rose 2.65 points, or 0.19 per cent, to 1,418.16. The technology-heavy
Nasdaq Composite Index jumped 14.20 points, or 0.46 per cent, to
3,076.59.
The US currency rose against the euro to 81.12 euro cents from
80.92 euro cents on Thursday. The dollar rose against the Japanese
currency to 79.56 yen from 79.33 yen.
