US stocks end higher for second straight session

US stocks rose for a second consecutive session at the close of Thursday’s trading, as geopolitical tensions eased related to President Donald Trump’s efforts to annex Greenland.

By the end of the session, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.63%, or 306 points, to 49,384, erasing all losses incurred earlier in the week.

The broader S&P 500 advanced 0.55%, or 37 points, to 6,913, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.91%, or 211 points, to 23,436.

In Europe, the Stoxx Europe 600 rose 1% to 608.86 points, supported by broad-based gains across most sectors and major exchanges.

Germany’s DAX added 1.20% to 24,856. France’s CAC 40 gained 1% to 8,148. The UK’s FTSE 100 edged up 0.10% to 10,150.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 surged 1.75% to 53,688 points, while the broader Topix index rose 0.75% to close at 3,616 points.

On oil, Brent crude futures for March delivery fell 1.81%, or $1.18, to $64.06 per barrel.

Meanwhile, US WTI for March delivery declined 2.10%, or $1.26, to $ 59.36 per barrel.

In the gold market, gold futures for February delivery rose 1.60%, or $ 75.9, to $ 4,913.40 per ounce, marking the fifth record close since the start of the year.

What’s driving markets?

Wall Street rebounded from a sell-off triggered by pressure from President Donald Trump to annex Greenland, after he said yesterday that he had ruled out the military option to achieve this goal. Trump also announced that an agreement had been reached with NATO to ensure a sustained US presence on the Danish territory.