Market - Global Stock Exchanges.

• Author: Kazmi, S. Kamal Hayder
• Position: Statistical data

Byline: S. Kamal Hayder Kazmi

US stocks rise as technology and consumer rally

US stocks rose on Friday, with technology and consumer discretionary sectors leading a rally, as upbeat earnings reports helped investors overlook trade and growth worries.

A strong rally at start of the year was stalled this week by concerns about global economic growth, US government shutdown and U.S.-China trade talks. But with fourth-quarter earnings largely exceeding Wall Street expectations, the benchmark SandP 500 is holding near six-week highs.

News that the US Senate was looking for a way to end a partial US government shutdown, entering its 35th day, also added to the mood.

The consumer discretionary sector rose 1.27 percent, boosted by gains in Starbucks Corp and Amazon.com Inc. Starbucks Corp shares rose 4.17 percent as the popularity of its holiday-themed drinks in the United States helped quarterly sales top analysts' expectations.

The SandP technology sector rose 0.54 percent, lifted by gains in shares of Western Digital Corp and Apple Inc.

Three-fourth of the 97 SandP 500 companies that have reported quarterly results have surpassed profit estimates, according to Refinitiv data. That is above the historical average of 64 percent.

However, Intel Corp's dismal current-quarter forecast, which it blamed on a slowdown in China and sluggish demand for its data center and modem chips, sent its shares down 7.72 percent.

Intel also capped gains in the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index which climbed 0.50 percent, after a near 6 percent surge on Thursday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 187.57 points, or 0.76 percent, at 24,740.81, the SandP 500 was up 17.50 points, or 0.66 percent, at 2,659.83 and the Nasdaq Composite was up 51.15 points, or 0.72 percent, at 7,124.61.

Shares of Apple rose 2.10 percent and Amazon climbed 1.35 percent. PHLX housing index climbed 1.65 percent. Colgate-Palmolive Co dropped 0.84 percent after the toothpaste maker forecast a decline in 2019 earnings.

Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 5.82-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and by a 3.28-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.

India Sensex rises over 250 points, nifty above 10,900

Domestic stock markets started Friday's session on a higher note tracking positive global cues. The SandP BSE Sensex rose as much as 279.38 points to touch 36,474.48, while the Nifty50 barometer of the National Stock Exchange surged by 81.9 points to 10,931.70. The gains on Dalal Street were led by buying in IT...