• The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 55.64 points, or 0.23 percent, to 24,782.29, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 5.32 points, or 0.20 percent, to 2,684.57 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 4.40 points, or 0.06 percent, to 6,965.36.
The three main U.S. stock indexes rose on Thursday, boosted by bank and energy stocks as investors bet on more economically sensitive sectors.
• The U.S. Congress approved a $1.5-trillion tax bill this week that will slash corporate income tax rates to 21 percent from 35 percent. Investors are hopeful that the lower rates will prompt companies to spend more on dividends and share buybacks.
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• Asian markets were mostly higher in early Friday trade, tracking moderate gains made on Wall Street as investors stateside considered the effects of lower corporate taxes.
• Japan's Nikkei 225 hovered around the flat line, with automakers declining slightly in morning trade. Toyota lost 0.6 percent and Honda was lower by 0.67 percent.
Reference: Reuters, CNBC
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