USA: Choppy trading in anticipation of Friday's "triple-witching" - quarterly expiration of stock options, stock index options, and futures - saw the Dow rising 5.9 points to 8781.38 after back-to-back-to-back record closes. The Nasdaq, after a record on Wednesday, was up 8.55 at 1796.83 in early going. Asia: Hopes of declining interest rates and economic reform promises from the Chinese premier drove Hong Kong's Hang Seng to its second-highest level this year, up 2.9 percent. In Tokyo, investors waited out next week's economic stimulus package, and the Nikkei gained 0.36 in mixed trading. Europe: American gains buoyed bourses in Britain (up 0.71 percent), Germany (up 0.34 percent), and France (up 0.21 percent).
Market Watch
USA: Choppy trading in anticipation of Friday's "triple-witching" - quarterly expiration of stock options, stock index options, and futures - saw the Dow rising 5.9 points to 8781.38 after back-to-back-to-back record closes. The Nasdaq, after a record on Wednesday, was up 8.55 at 1796.83 in early going. Asia: Hopes of declining interest rates and economic reform promises from the Chinese premier drove Hong Kong's Hang Seng to its second-highest level this year, up 2.9 percent. In Tokyo, investors waited out next week's economic stimulus package, and the Nikkei gained 0.36 in mixed trading. Europe: American gains buoyed bourses in Britain (up 0.71 percent), Germany (up 0.34 percent), and France (up 0.21 percent).
