US markets ended a strong week on a positive footing, buoyed by comments from Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (Beijing’s No. 2 leader after President Xi Jinping) indicating that the Chinese government was committed to taking additional stimulus measures if needed to prop up the world’s second largest economy - Dow up +139-points or +0.54% with Boeing Co rebounding +1.5% following reports that the company planned to roll out a software upgrade for its 737 Max aircraft. The broader S&P500 +0.50%, with Information Technology (up +1.22%) and Consumer Discretionary (+0.71%) at the forefront of the sector gains. The NASDAQ +0.76%. Investor sentiment was also lifted by by reports by Chinese news agency Xinhua that representatives from Beijing and Washington made substantive progress on trade over a call. When asked last Thursday (14 March) whethere the US and China can strike a trade deal, President Trump said "Mr Trump said “Probably one way or the other we’re going to know over the next three or four weeks.” Separately, Chinese lawmakers Friday (15 March) approved a new law against the forced transfer of technology by foreign companies - a big complaint by the US. and other countries. For the week, the Dow rose +1.57% to log its best week since the week ended 15 February. S&P500 gained +2.89%, its biggest weekly advance since the week ended November, led by the Information Technology sector (+4.9%)). The Nasdaq rallied +3.78%. technology-centric index’s strongest week since the week ended 28 December last year.
