US equity markets closed higher as a surprisingly good earnings report from Facebook lifted the Nasdaq.
The US dollar, however, surrendered most of its gains after disappointing durable goods orders figures for June were released overnight.
The Australian dollar is one US cent higher after the US data put downward pressure on the greenback.
Early Friday morning the Australian dollar unit was trading at 92.62 US cents, up from 91.62 cents on Thursday.
Markets are sensitive to any data that suggests the US economic recovery is slowing, as it casts doubt over whether the US Federal Reserve will begin tapering its economic stimulus program soon.
On Wall Street the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index rose 25.59 (0.71 per cent) to 3,605.19.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 13.37 (0.09 per cent) to 15,555.61, while the broad-based S&P 500 added 4.31 (0.26 per cent) at 1,690.25.
Facebook was in focus after the leading social network’s earnings report showed robust growth in ad revenue from mobile technology.
Facebook shares skyrocketed nearly 30 per cent to $34.36.
“The strength today is in the Nasdaq,” said Kenny Landgraf with Kenjol Capital Management.
Art Hogan, managing director at Lazard Capital Markets, characterised earnings overall as a “mixed bag” adding that the market is in a mode of “consolidation” after recent record highs.
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Credit-card company Visa jumped 4.2 per cent after reporting a 16 per cent rise in net income to $1.2 billion and announcing a new $1.5 billion share repurchase program.
Bond prices dropped. The yield on the 10-year US Treasury bond rose to 2.61 per cent from 2.59 per cent Wednesday, while the 30-year climbed to 3.67 per cent from 3.65 per cent. Bond prices and yields move inversely.
