Dow Jones closes at record level, posts gains for fourth straight month

The US stock indices bolstered their gains at the close of the last trading session of August, as the corporate earnings season nears its end and investors assess data from the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.55%, or 228 points, to close at a record of 41,563 points. The index posted weekly and monthly gains of 0.95% and 1.75%, respectively to maintain its upside trend for the third week and fourth month.

The added1%, or 56 points to 5,648, maintaining its uptrend for the third week and fourth month. The index recorded weekly and monthly gains of 0.25% and 2.3%, respectively.

The Nasdaq Composite jumpednearly 1.15%, or 197 points, to end the day at 17,713, achieving a monthly gain of 0.65%. The index lost 0.9% this week.

As for the European indices, STOXX Europe 600gained 0.1%, to a record level of 525 points, recording weekly and monthly gains of 1.35% each. The index maintained its upside trend for the second straight month.

Meanwhile, the CAC 40 dropped 0.15% to 7,630 points. DAX 40 and FTSE were steady at 8,376 points and 18,906 points, respectively.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.75% to 38,647 points. Similarly, TOPIX added 0.75%, to 2,712 points. 

Brent crude futures for October delivery—expiring today—declined by 1.45%, or $1.14, to $78.80 per barrel, recording weekly and monthly losses of 0.3% and 2.5%, respectively.

Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for October delivery fell by 3.1%, or $2.36, to $73.55 a barrel, marking weekly and monthly losses of 1.7% and 4.3%, respectively.

In the gold market, December futures prices dropped by 1.3%, or $32.70, to $2527.60 per ounce, posting a weekly loss of 0.75%, though the yellow metal achieved a monthly gain of 2.2%.