Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – US markets posted a weekly gain, as a slew of optimism saw hopes for economic recovery reflected in rising equity markets.
Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman stated that the recession would ease by the end of this year.
Equity gains were further fuelled by higher than expected retail sales and lower than expected job cuts in May. The Dow recorded a 63.78 point increase to 8,739.02 for a weekly gain of 0.75 percent. The NASDAQ posted a 1.5 percent gain this week to 1,853.08.
Asian markets were fuelled by lower than expected contraction in the Japanese economy and a 32.9 percent increase in fixed asset investment in China, according to reports.
The Nikkei saw a 3.23 percent weekly gain, rising 312 points over the previous week as falling capital investment was counterbalanced by gains in Japanese exporters on a falling Yen.
The BSE Sensex posted a 3.1 percent weekly gain to 15,411.47. The index breached a 10 month high of 15,466.81 during the week on expectations of aggressive government spending to boost economic growth.
DSE General Index gained 2.4 percent this week, closing 63.79 points above last week at 2,747.27.
BBN/SI/SS/AD-13June09-2:15 pm (BST)
