June 27 (Reuters) - The Nasdaq hit a record high on

Friday, as investors piled into technology companies on optimism

around artificial intelligence and the prospect for looser

monetary policy, putting the index on track to confirm a bull

market.

The tech-heavy index was last up 0.4% at 20,243

points, surpassing its record high of 20,204 on December 16. It

had tumbled 26.8% from its previous peak, marking a bear market

days after Trump's "Liberation Day" reciprocal tariffs on April

2.