Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– US stocks showed a slight positive trend over the week, supported by mergers and acquisitons that imply growth in the economy and lift investor sentiment, although gains were limited as investors became cautious ahead of the key employment data at the end of the last week.
On Friday, the stocks capped their best monthly advance since November, as data showed that the economy grew better than expected in the fourth quarter. At the end of the week on Thursday, US stocks remained flat as worries about bank regulation offset signs of improvement in the labor market and services sector.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 20.60 points or 0.22 percent over the week to end at 10,396.76. The Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 44.78 points or 2.00 percent over the same time to finish at 2,280.68, according to reports.
At the beginning of the week, Japan’s Nikkei average rose on Friday, with stronger-than-expected domestic output helping counter investor jitters after weak U.S. data regarding consumer sentiment. The benchmark Nikkei rose 24.07 points to end at 10,126.03. Over the week, the Nikkei 225 Index gained 43.76 points or 0.43 percent from the previous week’s close.
Locally, the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) General Index (DGEN) dipped near 5,550 on Sunday but recovered its losses during the rest of the week. The DGEN finished at 5,640.94, shedding off 42.99 points or 0.76 percent from the previous week’s close.
BBN/SS/SI/AD-05March10-11:02 pm (BST)
