Odaily News U.S. stocks hit new highs on Friday, driven by the latest developments in trade disputes and budget negotiations in the U.S. Congress. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both hit new highs as investors increasingly ignore the economic threats posed by trade wars and instability in the Middle East. U.S. Commerce Secretary and Treasury Secretary Bessant both said the United States is close to reaching many trade agreements. Bessant said Washington hopes to complete trade negotiations with more than a dozen countries by early September. (Jinshi)