(The Closing Bell will be updated sometime after 4:00 PM CDST to include the latest updates from IBD and Bloomberg Evening Briefing.)
FYI: The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed above its record closing level in intraday trading before falling back a bit Friday, still on pace to add to a winning week for U.S. stocks.
The blue-chip index would join the S&P 500 in record territory if can reclaim its gains, lifted this week by hopes that central banks could lower interest rates in the face of slowing global growth. On Thursday, those hopes lifted the S&P 500 to its first record close since April and boosted bond prices, pushing 10-year Treasury yields down to 2% for the first time since 2016.
The Dow industrials are moving toward a gain of nearly 3% this week and are on pace for their best month in years. The gains come as investors delicately balance indications that trade disputes may lead to slower economic growth around the world, optimism that leaders will reach a trade deal, and the possibility that central banks will step in and cut rates if economies do falter.
On Friday, the blue-chip index declined 33 points, or 0.13%, to 26719, after earlier rising as high as 26907.37. The average needs to close above 26828.39—its Oct. 3 record closing level—to reach a new closing high. The S&P 500 closed down .12% while the Nasdaq Composite lost 0.24%. All three indexes are on track to end the week up at least 2%. The Dow industrials are up about 8% in June; if the gains hold, it will be their best monthly performance since October 2015.
In Asia, indexes were mostly lower after data showed orders booked at Japanese factories were at the weakest level in three years, while a decline in new orders suggested a significant pickup in activity is unlikely over coming months.
The Japanese benchmark Nikkei index slipped almost 1%, though it still rose 0.7% for the week. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.3% on Friday, but it rose 5% in the past week.
U.S.-traded oil rose 0.8% Friday to $57.53 a barrel. That came after prices jumped 5.4% the day before.
Regards,
Ted
Bloomberg Evening Briefing:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-21/your-evening-briefingMarketWatch:
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/sp-500-poised-to-pull-back-after-notching-first-record-since-april-2019-06-21/printWSJ:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/global-stocks-tread-water-after-s-p-record-11561105675Bloomberg:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-20/asia-stocks-seen-mixed-with-s-p-500-at-record-high-markets-wrap?srnd=premiumIBD:
https://www.investors.com/market-trend/stock-market-today/dow-jones-index-nears-all-time-high/CNBC:
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/21/stock-market-us-stocks-focus-on-tensions-with-iran.htmlReuters:
https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-usa-stocks/sp-500-hits-fresh-record-high-as-pence-sparks-trade-optimism-idUSKCN1TM1DIU.K:
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-stocks/londons-ftse-100-inches-higher-as-middle-east-tensions-lift-oil-majors-idUKKCN1TM0PLEurope:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-stocks/european-share-rally-cools-chip-stocks-hit-idUSKCN1TM0PRAsia:
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/asian-markets-mixed-as-investors-eye-persian-gulf-tensions-2019-06-20/printBonds:
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/21/us-treasury-yields-higher-amid-tensions-with-iran.htmlCurrencies:
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/21/forex-markets-the-fed-dollar-in-focus.htmlOil:
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/21/oil-markets-middle-east-tensions-the-fed-in-focus.htmlGold:
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/21/gold-prices-after-fed-opens-door-for-potential-rate-cut.htmlWSJ: Markets At A Glance:
https://markets.wsj.com/usMajor ETFs % Change:
https://www.barchart.com/etfs-funds/etf-monitorSPDR's Sector Tracker:
http://www.sectorspdr.com/sectorspdr/tools/sector-trackerSPDR's Bloomberg Sector Performance Pie Chart:
https://www.bloomberg.com/markets/sectorsCurrent Futures:
https://finviz.com/futures.ashx 
