Dow Jones and S&P 500 hit new records in early trading

The main US stock indices opened higher on Friday, with Dow Jones and the S&P 500 hitting new highs.

This comes than to successive expectations of further recovery and growth in the US during 2021, according to the International Monetary Fund and the US Federal Reserve.

Data showed today the Chinese economy grew 18.3% during the first quarter of 2021, in line with analysts' forecasts.

Several US banks reported strong quarterly earnings results as the earnings season took off.

As for stocks, Dow Jones rose 0.4% or 130 points to 34,166 as of 14:05 GMT, Nasdaq fell 0.2% or 37 points to 14,001, and S&P 500 rose 0.1% or 6 points to 4,176.