Market Overview

Stock indexes in the United States opened mostly higher on Friday, with investors digesting the latest housing market report. The data revealed a 1.6% increase in housing starts for April, signaling potential strength in the economy. Additionally, anticipation builds for the upcoming consumer confidence data release.

Index Performances

At the opening bell, the Dow Jones remained flat, while the Nasdaq 100 saw a modest gain of 0.18%, buoyed by a 2.80% rise in Alphabet shares. The S&P 500 also edged up by 0.15%, with Super Micro Computer leading the charge with a 4.53% jump.

Currency Movements

In currency markets, the euro held steady against the dollar, trading at $1.11918 at 9:29 am ET.