US stocks close higher, Nasdaq adds over 1%

US stocks ended Thursday on a positive note, as trade tensions eased following a tariff-cutting agreement with the UK. Investors are awaiting a meeting between Washington and Beijing in Switzerland over the weekend.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.62%, or 255 points, to settle at 41,369 points.

The S&P 500 index advanced 0.58% to 5,663 points, and Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.10% to close at 17,928 points.

As for European markets, the STOXX Europe 600 inched up 0.4% to 535points.

The German DAX index was up 1% to 23,352 points, and the French CAC 40 index rose 0.9% to 7,694 points. The British FTSE index added 0.3% to 8,531 points.

The Nikkei index settled 0.4% higher at 36,928 points, and the broader Topix index gained 0.1% to 2,698 points.

Brent crude for July delivery closed 2.81%, or $1.72, higher at $62.84 per barrel. WTI crude for June delivery jumped 3.17%, or $1.84, to $59.91 per barrel.

As for gold, June futures settled 2.5% lower at $3,306/oz.

Markets are also eyeing a May 10 meeting in Switzerland between US Treasury Secretary Scott Peacent and China’s top economic official to discuss bilateral trade.