All the day’s economic and financial news, as shares rise in Asia and Europe and the US...but house prices fall in the UK capital * Nasdaq hits record high * Goldman’s Solomon moves closer to succeeding Blankfein * Introduction: Optimism over American economy * London house prices in biggest fall since financial crisis * Prices jump in the North West 2.48pm GMT Mário Centeno, the new head of the Eurogroup of finance ministers, has given Athens a vote of confidence at today’s meeting in Brussels. I had a friendly discussion with Greek finance minister Euclid @tsakalotos earlier today. #Greece is making remarkable progress in implementing the programme pic.twitter.com/aPHtKBFjIB 2.45pm GMT FAWAD RAZAQZADA, market analyst at FOREX.COM, says investors have rediscovered their appetite for risk today - pushing shares up and propelling the Nasdaq index of tech-focused shares to today’s all-time high. Sentiment improved last week as concerns eased over: (1) nuclear threats from North Korea, (2) the prospects of a trade war, (3) the possibility of sooner-than-expected tightening of monetary conditions in the Eurozone and Japan, and (4) the US economy. All of a sudden there was unexpected urgency from North Korea to denuclearize and US President Donald Trump has agreed to meet the nation’s leader Kim Jong-un face-to-face by May. This sharply reduced the appeal of safe haven assets like gold and yen, boosting risk-sensitive assets across the board. Continue reading...