Xinhua/Wang Ying/Getty Images Global stocks stood near record highs on Friday after strong US and China economic data. UBS predicts the S&P 500 could end the year 5% higher at 4,400. Germany's health chief said citizens need to drastically reduce contact to curb the third wave. Sign up here for our daily newsletter, 10 Things Before the Opening Bell. Global stocks were trading near record highs on Friday after US jobless claims tumbled to a pandemic-era low and China said its economy grew 18% in the first-quarter of 2021.The MSCI Index's broadest gauge of global stocks edged up 0.05% in early European trade, just slightly lower than Thursday's record peak.Futures on the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq whipsawed between gains and losses, suggesting a mixed open when US indices start trading later in the day.US jobless claims for the week through April 10 fell to 576,000, beating economist expectations of 700,000.