US stocks indices close positive, Nasdaq hits record high

US stock indices rose during the first session of the third quarter, as markets assessed economic data that boosted hopes of a Federal Reserve rate cut this year.

Dow Jones industrial index rose by 0.15% or 50 points to close at 39,169 points on July 1.

The value of the S&P 500 index increased by 0.25% or 14 points, to 5,475 points, while Nasdaq surged by 0.85%, or 146 points, to 17,879 points, which is a record level.

In Europe, STOXX Europe 600 index rose 0.3% to 513 points, to end a series of losses that lasted four consecutive sessions.

British FTSE 100 index was stable at 8,166 points, the German DAX index increased by 0.3% to 18,290 points, while the French CAC 40 was up by 1.1% at 7,561 points.

In Japan, the Nikkei index rose 0.1% to 39,631 points, while the broader Topix index gained 0.5% to 2,824 points.

In the oil market, Brent crude futures for September (the most active) increased by 1.9%, or $1.60, to close at$86.60 a barrel.

WTI crude for August delivery increased by 2.25%, or $1.84, to record $83.38 a barrel.

On the gold, the prices of futures for the yellow metal August delivery stabilized at $2,338.9 an ounce, to erase the losses of the session after it fell to $2328.20.

According to the data of the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), industrial activity in the United States has shrunk for the third month in a row in June. The price index decreased to the lowest level in six months, in addition to the decline in orders and the volume of production.