The record-breaking run on Wall Street continued overnight, with the Dow punching through the key 17000 barrier for the first time ever.

The landmark performance on the Dow was fuelled by data showing US employers added 288,000 jobs in June, smashing expectations for a 214,000 gain.

In further good news, the unemployment rate surprisingly fell from 6.3% to 6.1% – the lowest since September 2008.

European equities took part in the overnight gains after the ECB kept interest rates at record lows and signalled it may ease monetary policy further if required.

In commodity markets, the iron ore price recovery continues alongside a modest recovery in Chinese growth.

Nickel surged to a six week high, with copper also rising slightly, as the strong US jobs numbers brightened the demand outlook for industrial metals.

The healthy rise in global equities saw gold weaken amid reduced demand for safe haven assets, whilst oil was pressured by expectations of increased crude supplies from Libya.

The US dollar was a key focus in currency markets, logging widespread gains versus its rivals as the non-farm payrolls data strengthened the case for a winding down of Fed stimulus.

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