Dow Jones industrial average eclipses 20,000 for the first time ever as cheers erupt from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
KEEPING SCORE: In Europe, Germany’s DAX was up 1.3 percent to 11,746 while the CAC-40 in France rose 1 percent to 4,879. The FTSE 100 index of leading British shares was 0.4 percent higher at 7,175. Wall Street was set for a solid opening too with Dow futures and the broader S&P 500 futures both up 0.3 percent.
WALL STREET DRIVER: U.S. stocks continue to be the main driver across the world. They have enjoyed a strong rally recently amid hopes that the Trump administration will cut taxes, stimulate the economy and reduce red tape.
JAPAN SURPLUS: Japan posted a trade surplus in 2016, its first in six years, as lower oil prices pulled imports lower, the government reported Wednesday. A jump in exports to China and other Asian countries late in the year also helped turn the balance to black. The 4.1 trillion yen ($35.8 billion) surplus compared with a 2.8 trillion yen deficit in 2015. Exports fell 7.4 percent from a year earlier to 70.04 trillion yen ($617 billion) while imports dropped 16 percent to 66 trillion yen ($581 billion).
ASIA’S DAY: Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 surged 1.4 percent to 19,057.50 while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.4 percent to 23,049.12. Sydney’s S&P ASX 200 gained 0.4 percent to 5,671.50 and the Shanghai Composite index added 0.2 percent to 3,149.55. South Korea’s Kospi gained 0.1 percent to 2,066.94. The Sensex in India added 1.3 percent to 27,720.31. Benchmarks in Southeast Asia were mostly higher.
ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude dipped 48 cents to $52.70 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, used to price international oils, fell 51 cents to $54.93 in London.
CURRENCY: In currency markets, the euro was up 0.2 percent to $1.0750 while the dollar fell 0.2 percent to 113.55 yen.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.