U.S. stock indexes are closing their best week in two months with a flourish on Friday. The S&P 500 was 1.2% higher in midday trading and on track for its first winning week in the last three. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 447 points,

BMO Capital Markets forecasts the S&P 500 will reach 6,700, reflecting a gain of 13.2%. Chief investment strategist Brian Belski said he and his team "remain resolutely bullish," but expect "performance and fundamentals will more closely match the historical norms -- namely, in the high-single digit/low-double-digit percentage range in 2025."

Asian shares are mixed after gains for oil and gas producers helped offset drops for Nvidia and other Big Tech companies on Wall Street.

Asian Shares Advance After Inflation Data Drives a Rally on Wall Street TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares mostly rose Thursday, following a rally on Wall Street driven by encouraging update on U.S. inflation.

Shares in Asia followed Wall Street higher Thursday as easing US core inflation kept alive the prospect of Federal Reserve rate cuts this year.

World stocks are mixed follow Wall Street’s mostly positive performance ahead of key U.S. inflation data that could influence the pace of the Federal Reserve’s rate cuts.