Asia Mixed, Europe Markets Down, Gold Nears $2,750 - Global Markets Today While US Slept

On Friday, October 18th, U.S. markets closed higher, with the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq hitting record highs. Strong Netflix earnings and broader gains in tech stocks boosted these indexes. All three indexes marked their sixth straight weekly gain. Key tech stocks, including Apple and Nvidia, contributed to the rally.

In economic news, U.S. housing stats dropped by 0.5% in September, reaching an annualized rate of 1.354 million units. Additionally, building permits decreased by 2.9%, falling to an annual rate of 1.428 million for the month.

Most S&P 500 sectors closed positively on Friday, led by utilities, communication services, and real estate, while energy stocks declined.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.09% and closed at 43,275.91. The S&P 500 ...