NEW YORK, New York -U.S. stock indices closed higher on Friday, with the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and NASDAQ Composite all posting gains.

The Standard and Poor's 500 (^GSPC) rose by 49.45 points, or 0.78 percent, closing at 5,614.08, with a trading volume of 2.816 billion shares.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) added 206.97 points, or 0.47 percent, finishing at 44,175.61, while trading volume reached 452.506 million shares.

Meanwhile, the NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) outperformed with a gain of 207.32 points, or 0.98 percent, ending at 21,450.02, with 7.835 billion shares traded.

The NYSE Composite Index (^NYA) climbed 58.50 points, or 0.29 percent, to 20,524.24, while the NYSE American Composite Index (^XAX) edged up 16.43 points, or 0.27 percent, to 6,191.14. The Russell 2000 (^RUT), which tracks small-cap stocks, increased by 3.70 points, or 0.17 percent, settling at 2,218.42.

In a notable move, the CBOE Volatility Index (^VIX), often referred to as the "fear gauge," dropped sharply by 1.42 points, or 8.57 percent, to 15.15, signaling reduced market anxiety.

Global Markets Show Diverging Trends
Outside the U.S., global markets delivered a mixed performance.

In Europe, the FTSE 100 (^FTSE) dipped slightly by 5.04 points, or 0.06 percent, to 9,095.73, while Germany's DAX (^GDAXI) fell 29.64 points, or 0.12 percent, to 24,162.86.

France's CAC 40 (^FCHI), however, gained 33.68 points, or 0.44 percent, closing at 7,743.00. The broader EURO STOXX 50 (^STOXX50E) rose 15.67 points, or 0.29 percent, to 5,347.74, and the Euronext 100 (^N100) increased 4.87 points, or 0.31 percent, to 1,579.74.

Belgium's BEL 20 (^BFX) climbed 22.57 points, or 0.48 percent, to 4,733.91.

In Asia-Pacific, markets were mostly lower.

Japan's Nikkei 225 (^N225) surged 761.33 points, or 1.85 percent, to 41,820.48, while Taiwan's TWSE (^TWII) inched up 17.49 points, or 0.07 percent, to 24,021.26.

China's Shanghai Composite (000001.SS) slipped 4.54 points, or 0.12 percent, to 3,635.13, with a trading volume of 1.101 billion shares.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index (^HSI) dropped 222.81 points, or 0.89 percent, to 24,858.82, while Singapore's STI Index (^STI) declined 18.32 points, or 0.43 percent, to 4,239.83. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 (^AXJO) and All Ordinaries (^AORD) both fell 0.28 percent, closing at 8,807.10 and 9,076.60, respectively. India's S&P BSE SENSEX (^BSESN) tumbled 765.47 points, or 0.95 percent, to 79,857.79.

However, some Southeast Asian markets bucked the trend. Indonesia's IDX Composite (^JKSE) rose 43.20 points, or 0.58 percent, to 7,533.38, and Malaysia's KLSE (^KLSE) gained 7.87 points, or 0.51 percent, to 1,556.98. 

In the Americas, Canada's S&P/TSX Composite (^GSPTSE) slipped slightly by 2.59 points, or 0.01 percent, to 27,758.68. Brazil's IBOVESPA (^BVSP) dropped 614.36 points, or 0.45 percent, to 135,913.25, and Mexico's IPC (^MXX) fell 190.71 points, or 0.33 percent, to 58,070.17. Chile's S&P IPSA (^IPSA), however, jumped 159.63 points, or 1.91 percent, to 8,520.53, while Argentina's MERVAL (^MERV) plunged 48,094.50 points, or 2.05 percent, to 2,300,926.00.

Currency and Commodity Markets
The U.S. Dollar Index (DX-Y.NYB) dipped 0.14 points, or 0.14 percent, to 98.26, while the British Pound Currency Index (^XDB) edged up 0.05 points, or 0.04 percent, to 134.49. The Euro Currency Index (^XDE) fell 0.33 points, or 0.28 percent, to 116.36, and the Japanese Yen Currency Index (^XDN) declined 0.27 points, or 0.40 percent, to 67.70. The Australian Dollar Currency Index (^XDA) saw a marginal increase of 0.02 points, or 0.03 percent, to 65.21.

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