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Central bank bonanza, stocks on a roll
MSCI's gauge of world stock markets on Friday hit its highest point in 13 months. Wall Street was upbeat as the S&P 500 notched its fourth straight weekly gain and a 20 per cent rise from its October low, meaning the benchmark index had confirmed a bull market, according to the definition of many investors. Meanwhile, Japan's Nikkei has posted nine straight weekly gains. Even beaten-up China stocks managed to end higher on Friday, buoyed the automobile and technology sectors, even as disappointing inflation data weighed on investor sentiment. Of course, a busy week could quickly change the mood. Producer price data ... (full story)