Headline Summary April 16

As Chinese growth reports contributed to indicators of a global economic turnaround, US stocks finished the week at all-time peaks. The value of the dollar dropped.

The S&P 500 index rose for the fourth week in a row, boosted by solid results from Asia and a slew of positive readings from the world's largest economy.

The week's data dump, along with positive company results, gave the reflation trade a boost. As the reporting season gears up next week, with around 80 S&P 500 participants and more than 50 Stoxx 600 companies revealing earnings, investors will be looking for more evidence.

Retail sales and weekly jobless claims reports in the US indicated an accelerating rebound in the world's largest economy.
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China's stocks outperformed in Asia after a report showed the country's economy grew at a rapid pace in the first quarter. The Stoxx Europe 600 index has now advanced for seven weeks in a row, its longest winning run since May 2018.