New York (AFP)

Wall Street progressed Friday at the opening and headed for clear gains over the week, confident in the economic recovery but cautious in the face of the health situation.

Around 2:20 GMT, its flagship index, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, gained 0.83% to 26,295.61 points.

The Nasdaq, with a strong technological coloring, appreciated by 1.04% to 10,046.33 points and could end the week on a record.

The S&P 500, which represents the 500 largest companies on Wall Street, gained 0.86% to 3,142.06 points.

The New York Stock Exchange ended in scattered order Thursday, investors wanting to believe in the economic recovery but worried about the growing number of coronavirus patients in several American states and in certain parts of the world: the Dow Jones had fallen by 0.15 %, while the Nasdaq appreciated by 0.33%.

"The US equity market continues to rebound sharply from the fall of last week, still supported by three major uptrends," observe analysts at Charles Schwab.

These factors are "recent positive economic data, the pursuit of monetary and budgetary support measures around the world and the progress of the health sector in the development of a solution to the pandemic of Covid-19", detail -they.

Analysts also believe that press reports of a possible acceleration of Chinese purchases of American agricultural products have reassured investors, who had been scalded by the recent renewed tension between Beijing and Washington.

However, market players remain on the alert as the upsurge in the number of coronavirus contaminations in China and in several American states raises fears of a second wave of pandemic and a further slowdown in the world economy.

Friday's session could also be marked by a certain volatility, because it is, in financial jargon, a day known as "of the four witches", at the end of which expire several contracts on financial products.

- Spotify climbs -

Next week, the market will closely follow US indicators on new home sales, durable goods orders, inflation, first quarter gross domestic product and unemployment benefit claims.

"With many states having given the green light to reopen bars and restaurants, it will be interesting to see how this will affect new jobless claims," ​​notes JJ Kinahan of TD Ameritrade.

On the bond market, the 10-year rate on the US debt rose, standing at 0.7200% against 0.7084% Thursday evening.

Among the values ​​of the day, the oil majors listed on the New York market took advantage of the sharp rise in black gold prices: Chevron rose 1.84%, ExxonMobil 1.41% and Occidental 5.80%. .

The music platform Spotify climbed 5.78% after having revised upward the forecasts of incomes for 2021. The group recently signed contracts with the American star Kim Kardashian and with the number one of the podcast in the United States, Joe Rogan .

© 2020 AFP