- Nasdaq closes 0.5% higher at 14,095.47 points.
- Bitcoin tops US$49,000 this morning.
- Google inks landmark deal with Seven West Media.
The US markets closed higher on Friday, and up for the week across the three key indexes, as strong quarterly earnings reports and the vaccine rollout boost investor confidence.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq closed 0.5% higher at 14,095.47, the Dow Jones added 0.09% at 31,458.4 and the S&P500 gained 0.47% to a record-high 3934.83.
The Australian has strengthened to 78 US cents.
Bitcoin?s wide adoption-fuelled rally continues as the cryptocurrency topped US$49,000 for the first time this morning. The new record US$49,716.44 came as Canada?s Ontario Securities Commission approved the launch of the world?s first Purpose Bitcoin exchange traded fund.
Making headlines, Google has entered into a long-term agreement with Seven West Media in which it will pay for news content.
It?s being billed as the first major global deal for Google and comes as the Federal Parliament this week prepares to debate a proposed new law requiring tech giants to pay for Australian news media content.
In tech news, Mercedes-Benz is recalling 1.3 million cars in the US after it found its eCall emergency software might "fail to communicate" the correct location of a car to emergency services.
And Japan?s new samurai-themed vending machines feature a pre-recorded message to customers saying "fight the coronavirus! Wear your mask, wash your hands and gargle".