US Stock Markets Close Higher as Nasdaq Leads Charge

The US stock markets closed higher on Thursday, led by the Nasdaq's strong performance. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 316.14 points to finish at 51,778.04, while the S&P 500 climbed 85.95 points to close at 7,637.76.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite posted the largest gain of the day, rising 439.88 points to reach 26,418.30. This surge in the US stock markets comes after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time in three years on Wednesday.

In other markets, the US dollar weakened against most major currencies, with the euro and Japanese yen both gaining ground. The British pound was the sole exception, falling 0.17% against the greenback.