Global Markets: Dollar gains, stocks scale fresh highs on data, trade deal

(Reuters) - U.S. stock indexes nudged higher to fresh record levels on Friday after strong housing data and indications of resilience in the Chinese economy raised hopes of a rebound in global growth.

Investor sentiment has brightened this week after the world's top two economies took the first step in calling a truce to their 18-month tariff dispute by sealing a Phase 1 trade deal. Wall Street's three main indexes were on track to end the week with gains of over 1.5%.

Demand for risky assets improved after data showed China ended 2019 on a somewhat firmer note, even as economic growth cooled to its weakest in nearly 30 years in the last year.