New York (AFP)

The New York Stock Exchange rose sharply at the opening on Friday, supported by encouraging signals on the reopening of the American economy and a possible treatment of the Covid-19.

Around 1:45 pm GMT, its flagship index, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, advanced 2.25% to 24,066.78 points.

The Nasdaq, with a strong technological coloring, appreciated by 1.09% 8,625.08 points.

The S&P 500, which represents the 500 largest companies on Wall Street, climbed 1.97% to 2,854.66 points.

Wall Street had already closed in green on Thursday, despite poor figures on new jobless claims in the United States: the Dow Jones had appreciated by 0.14% and the Nasdaq by 1.66%.

"The US markets have wavered between losses and gains over the past six sessions as investors try to balance the hope of an end to restrictions designed to stem the spread of the coronavirus and the burst of indicators showing pandemic damage to the economy, "notes Art Hogan of National Holdings.

But on Friday, brokers were reassured by information from Stat News reporting that the first results of a study on a drug from the Gilead laboratory for patients with severe cases of Covid-19 were promising. The title of the company jumped 9.58%.

The enthusiasm of market players was also fueled "by the presentation by the White House (Thursday evening) of a plan on how to restart America" ​​as well as "by an announcement by Boeing, which will resume production in its Puget Sound factory, "said Patrick O'Hare of Briefing.

According to the plan unveiled by Donald Trump at his daily press conference on the health crisis, the governors of the 50 states will ultimately decide to lift the more or less strict restrictions or confinement decreed to stem the pandemic. But the executive has drawn up its recommendations to "guide" them.

The aircraft manufacturer has meanwhile announced a gradual resumption, next week, of its production of commercial aircraft in the United States, after an interruption of several weeks.

Its title soared 12.41%, which particularly benefited the Dow Jones of which he is one of the most important members.

On the bond market, the 10-year rate on the debt of the United States fell to 0.6071% against 0.6267% the day before at the close.

© 2020 AFP