Major U.S. stock indices closed higher on Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average reaching a historic peak of 50,169.65 points, marking the first time it has ever surpassed the 50,000-point threshold. The index initially broke through the 40,000-point level on May 16, 2025. Technology stocks rebounded following several days of heavy selling, while Bitcoin staged a strong recovery after a significant decline.

In U.S. markets, the Dow Jones gained 1,206.95 points, or 2.47%, closing at 50,115.67. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 490.63 points, or 2.18%, to finish at 23,031.21. The S&P 500 rose 133.90 points, or 1.97%, settling at 6,932.30. Among individual stocks, Strategy (MSTR.US) surged more than 26%, AMD (AMD.US) climbed over 8%, NVIDIA (NVDA.US) increased by more than 7.8%, and CoreWeave (CRWV.US) jumped over 20%.

European markets also posted gains. Germany's DAX 30 index rose 270.95 points, or 1.11%, to 24,719.53. The UK's FTSE 100 added 58.12 points, or 0.56%, closing at 10,367.34. France's CAC 40 increased by 35.67 points, or 0.43%, to 8,273.84. The Euro Stoxx 50 advanced 71.55 points, or 1.21%, to 5,997.25. Spain's IBEX 35 gained 189.24 points, or 1.07%, finishing at 17,935.54. Italy's FTSE MIB edged up 36.93 points, or 0.08%, to 45,856.50.

In cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin surged over 12%, reclaiming the $70,000 level after falling below $61,000 overnight, its lowest point since October 2024. Ethereum also rose over 12.6%, trading above $2,050.

Precious metals saw significant advances. Spot gold increased by 3.98% to $4,966.48 per ounce, while spot silver jumped 9.95% to $77.949 per ounce.

In the oil market, March WTI crude rose 0.4% on the New York market, settling at $63.55 per barrel. April Brent crude gained 0.7%, reaching $68.05 per barrel.

The Dow Jones's historic breach of the 50,000-point mark represents the latest milestone for the U.S. economy after years of robust growth. During this period, the U.S. has not only outperformed other developed economies but has also attracted substantial global investment. Chris Hyzy, Chief Investment Officer at Bank of America Private Bank, stated, "By no means do we believe the opportunity in the U.S. market is over." The Dow's recent ascent marks a reversal from earlier trends last year when tariff increases introduced by the Trump administration triggered market volatility. However, many of Wall Street's initial concerns about tariff impacts have not materialized, and with the U.S. economy continuing its strong performance, investors remain optimistic that the Federal Reserve will proceed with interest rate cuts later this year.

Despite the Dow's steady progress towards the 100,000-point milestone, some sectors of the economy show warning signs. Persistent price pressures continue to strain millions of middle- and low-income Americans, and U.S. job growth remains sluggish. Meanwhile, economic expansion abroad and expansive government policies have recently led international markets to outperform the relatively high-valued U.S. market, suggesting that some of the individual stocks driving the Dow's gains may face increased pressure in the future.

Federal Reserve Vice Chair Jefferson suggested that no immediate policy adjustments are necessary. He indicated that the central bank's current interest rate stance is "well suited" to the solid economic conditions, signaling no rush to resume the rate-cutting cycle paused in January. Jefferson noted that although inflation has remained above the Fed's 2% target, a disinflationary trend is expected to re-emerge later this year. He also projected that the overall economy is in good health, with growth potentially reaching about 2.2% in 2026. "I see some signs that the labor market is coming into better balance, that inflation is on a path back to our 2% goal, and that sustainable economic growth is likely to continue," he said. The three rate cuts implemented between September and December last year brought the policy rate to a range of 3.5% to 3.75%, which is near the market's estimate of a "neutral" level that neither stimulates nor restrains the economy. Jefferson described this stance as a reasonable balance between the two primary risks facing the central bank.

Fed official Daly emphasized that the Fed must balance two-sided risks to its dual mandate. In a statement, Daly noted that conversations with businesses reveal cautious optimism, with good growth, stable consumer spending, ample job openings, and productivity gains helping to control costs. However, conversations with workers indicate less certainty, reflected in recent polls showing Americans expect fewer job opportunities and rising unemployment. This disconnect is understandable in many ways, as the economy has been in a period of relatively low hiring and firing rates for some time. While this situation may persist, workers are acutely aware that conditions could change rapidly, leading to a labor market with reduced hiring and increased layoffs. With inflation above the FOMC's 2% target, this creates a sense of instability. Daly concluded that policy must address both sides of the Fed's mandate, as Americans need both price stability and maximum employment, and neither can be taken for granted.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Besant affirmed the Trump administration's support for a strong U.S. dollar policy. Despite recent dollar depreciation, Besant stated that the administration is implementing measures to make dollar-denominated assets more attractive. When asked about comments made by Trump in late January, when the dollar hit a four-year low, describing its decline as a "good thing," Besant clarified on CNBC that the strong dollar policy remains intact. "A strong dollar policy is about whether we are taking steps to create a favorable environment for the dollar. Are our tax policies, trade policies, deregulation, energy policies, and reasserting sovereignty in critical minerals making the U.S. the best place for global capital? I think no one has done more on that front than President Trump," Besant said. She also characterized Trump's weekend remark about potentially suing Fed Chair nominee Kevin Warsh if he didn't cut rates as a joke, adding that "the President has great respect for the Fed and its independence."

A survey indicated a slight improvement in U.S. consumer confidence in early February, though concerns about inflation and employment persist. The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index rose to 57.3 this month from a final reading of 56.4 in January. Survey Director Joanne Hsu commented, "While the current reading is the highest since August 2025, the gains over recent months have been modest, and by historical standards, overall sentiment remains very low. The erosion of personal finances due to high prices and worries about rising unemployment risks remain widespread." Consumers' one-year inflation expectations decreased to 3.5% this month from 4.0% in January, while their five-year inflation expectations edged up to 3.4% from 3.3% last month.

In corporate news, Apple (AAPL.US) plans to allow third-party voice-controlled AI chatbots to integrate with its CarPlay system. According to sources familiar with the matter, this move will enable users, for the first time, to interact with AI chatbots through their vehicle's interface. The company is expected to work on enabling support for such applications within the CarPlay system in the coming months. This shift represents a strategic change for Apple, which previously restricted its CarPlay software to its own Siri assistant for voice control. With this update, AI providers like OpenAI, Anthropic PBC, and Google will be able to develop CarPlay-compatible versions of their applications with voice control features. Some limitations will remain; sources indicated that Apple will not allow users to remap the Siri button or change the wake word for the service within CarPlay. Users will need to open the respective application to activate third-party voice control functions.

In analyst actions, UBS lowered its price target on Amazon (AMZN.US) to $301 from $311.