Dow Jones breaches 51,000 as US markets post record highs

U.S. equities closed at historic levels on Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising above 51,000 for the first time, closing at 51,032. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq also posted gains, ending at 7,580 and 26,972 respectively, extending a nine‑week rally that marked the longest winning streak since 2023.

Investors were buoyed by news that the United States and Iran are negotiating an extension of the cease‑fire and the lifting of navigation restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, although a final approval from President Donald Trump was still pending. The optimism helped push U.S. Treasury yields lower, with the 10‑year rate falling to 4.45 % and the 30‑year to 4.99 %, while oil prices slipped, Brent down 1.73 % to $87.36 a barrel.

The strong performance was also supported by robust corporate earnings in the first quarter and continued market enthusiasm for artificial‑intelligence‑related stocks.