Global markets scale record peak on upbeat results

The MSCI index, a gauge of equity performance in 49 countries, rose 0.91% to 584.16, passing its previous record of 581.02. Europe's broad FTSEurofirst 300 index closed up 0.80%, while on Wall Street the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3%, the S&P 500 gained 1.02%, and the Nasdaq Composite added 1.73%.

NEW YORK: A gauge of global equity markets jumped to an all-time peak on Wednesday, after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq rallied to fresh records on upbeat corporate results, while the dollar eased a day before the Federal Reserve possibly sets a new course on inflation.

MSCI's all-country world index surged past the pre-COVID high reached in February as technology stocks jumped after Salesforce.com Inc raised its annual revenue forecast on surging demand for the company's online business software.