American markets closed at record highs for the second consecutive ­session, boosted by technology shares ahead of the corporate earnings season.

By the close of trading on Wall Street, the broadly based S&P 500, regarded as a barometer of the health of the world’s largest economy, had risen 44.82 points, or 0.8%, to 5,859.85, its 46th new high of the year.

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 0.5%, at 43,065.22, its 37th closing high this year.

The technology-heavy Nasdaq rose 0.9% to 18,502.69, its third-highest close taking it 0.8% from its record high in July of 18,647.45.

Strong demand for Nvidia’s current and next-generation AI processors pushed the stock up 2.4% to a new high of $138.07, putting it on track to topple Apple as the world’s most valuable company.

Nvidia, Apple and Microsoft account for about a fifth of the S&P 500’s weight.

The dollar touched a nine-week high against a basket of world currencies and was 0.1% up against sterling at $1.3055.

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FTSE 100

The UK's flagship share index, the FTSE 100, was up 39-points, at 8,292 shortly after opening this morning.

Brent crude oil futures were down 3.50%, trading at $74.75 a barrel.

Companies reporting today

Bellway

Full Year Results

Bytes Technology Group

Half Year Results

IntegraFin Holdings

Q4 Trading Statement

LVMH*

Q3 Trading Statement

Mitie Group

Q2 Trading Statement

QinetiQ

Q2 Trading Statement

Rio Tinto

Q3 Operations Update

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