The Trump trade deal with the UK is igniting stocks with the major indices all up by over 1.4%. And Trump said “Better go out and buy stocks now”.

The snapshot of the market currently shows:

• Dow industrial average is trading up 576 points or 1.40% at 41688.78.
• S&P index is up 78.23 points or 1.40% at 5709.
• NASDAQ index is trading up 317 points or 1.79% at 18053.90.

The major indices all closed higher yesterday snapping a 2-day decline to start the new trading week.

The NASDAQ index is now up 0.44% for the week while the S&P index is at a similar 0.42%. The Dow industrial average is leading the way with a gain of 0.93%.

The UK deal was somewhat low-hanging fruit. Discussions with China this weekend in Switzerland will be more important as will trade deals with Europe, Canada, Mexico and Japan. China currently has tariffs of 145% which has stopped shipments into the US ports. Jobs at the docks and with truck drivers are at risk. How low can tariffs go on some progress from the meeting? Does it make a difference whether it’s 75% or 145%?

Trump said lower imports represented a $1.1 billion benefit to the US so a “slowdown is the good thing”..

Meanwhile, European indices are mostly higher with modest gains in Spain, and declines in the UK.

• German DAX, +1.08%
• Frances CAC, +0.89%
• UK’s FTSE 100 -0.32%
• Spain’s Ibex +0.06%
• Italy’s FTSE MIB +1.71%

The German DAX is closing just below the record high at 23420 going back to March 6.

Italy’s FTSE MIB is pushing the March 19 hi close at 39712.65

This article was written by Greg Michalowski at www.forexlive.com.