US stock exchanges: Wall Street starts with losses - bond yields fall

US stock markets experienced a rise on Friday, buoyed by anticipation of strong company earnings and falling oil prices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which tracks 30 major companies, increased slightly by 1% to reach 52,445 points. The S&P 500, a broader index encompassing 500 leading US companies, gained 0.3% to sit at 7,714 points.

The Nasdaq Composite, a technology-focused index, remained almost unchanged at 26,444 points, and the Nasdaq 100, which tracks the 100 largest non-financial companies by market capitalization, also remained virtually flat at 29,525 points.

Approximately 400 stocks listed in the S&P 500 reported gains, effectively reversing earlier losses. Semiconductor values showed signs of recovery, which helped to lift market sentiment. Brent crude oil prices fell back to around $109 per barrel. Although reports of an imminent peace agreement between the US and Iran circulated, a spokesperson from involved diplomats clarified that such news was inaccurate, but negotiations for a deal were ongoing.

Meanwhile, in the bond market, long-term US Treasury bonds outperformed expectations, providing investors with above-average returns. Market participants are also awaiting a series of quarterly reports from the technology sector, hoping to gain insight into whether the recent boom in artificial intelligence justifies the billions invested in the industry.

SpaceX is scheduled to release its earnings on Tuesday, followed by Meta Platforms on Wednesday. Meanwhile, concerns over artificial intelligence are weighing on global stock markets, with companies involved in semiconductor and data center sectors experiencing pressure on Asian exchanges on Tuesday.