Wall St. hits fresh record highs after upbeat earnings

U.S. stock indices closed higher on Friday with Dow Jones and Standard and Poor's 500 touching record highs as the earnings season churns on with positive results, while earlier data showed a better-than-expected manufacturing PMI readings for July. 

The tech sector led the way higher after strong earnings for both AT&T and Verizon for the second quarter, while gains were modest in the manufacturing sector after mild results from General Electric, while traders await the meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee on July 26-27, the first since Britain's vote to exit the European Union, and after the stellar jobs data last month. 

Dow Jones rose 0.29%, or 53.62 points to 18,570.85, while Standard and Poor's 500 climbed 0.46%, or 9.86 points to 2,175.03. NASDAQ Composite added 0.52%, or 26.26 points to 5,100.16. 

The dollar index, gauging the greenback's performance against a basket of six major counterparts, rose to 97.37 from the opening of 96.87, with a session-high at 97.54, and a low at 96.82. 

On another note, gold futures due on August 15 fell 0.60% to $1,323.00 an ounce from the opening price of $1,331.00, while U.S. crude futures due on September 16 fell 1.14% to $44.24 a barrel from the opening of $44.75. Brent crude futures due also on September 16 slid 1.04% to $45.72 a barrel from the opening price of $46.20.