The US markets ended higher on Friday after preliminary data released by the University of Michigan showed consumer sentiment has improved by more than expected in the month of November. The University of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index climbed to 73.0 in November from 70.5 in October. Street had expected the index to inch up to 71.0. With the bigger than expected increase, the consumer sentiment index reached its highest level since hitting 77.2 in April. Further, markets continued to benefit from a positive reaction to former President Donald Trump's decisive victory in the U.S. presidential election.
Trump's return to the White House is expected to be positive for corporations and the U.S. economy, although there are some concerns about the effect planned tariff increases will have on inflation. On the sectoral front, interest rate-sensitive stocks saw considerable strength on the day, as treasury yields extend the notable pullback seen in the previous session. With the yield on the benchmark ten-year note pulling back further off the four-month closing high set on Wednesday, utilities, commercial real estate and telecom stocks all move notably higher.
Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 259.65 points or 0.59 percent to 43,988.99, Nasdaq gained 17.32 points or 0.09 percent to 19,286.78 and S&P 500 was up by 22.44 points or 0.38 percent to 5,995.54.