On Friday, April 26th, the U.S. stock markets closed higher, supported by strong earnings from tech leaders and mild inflation data. The market reacted positively to Alphabet’s first dividend and a $70 billion buyback, driving its shares up 10% and lifting its valuation above $2 trillion. Related: Alphabet’s Blockbuster Results Highlight Its Transition From AI Laggard To Going ‘On The Offensive’: 11 Analysts Revise Forecasts After Q1 Results Economic data showed the Federal Reserve’s key inflation gauge, the PCE price index, climbed to 2.7% in March from 2.5% in February, surpassing forecasts of 2.6%. Six of the eleven main S&P 500 sectors ended higher, led by communication services, technology, consumer discretionary, and materials. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.40% ...