In Asian Equity Markets stocks rose on Friday on prospects for a steady economic recovery in China, and after Wall Street reversed losses overnight following remarks by the Atlanta Federal Reserve chief that signalled a measured approach raising U.S. interest rates. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.7 percent. Australian shares were up 0.39 percent, while Japan’s Nikkei stock index rose 1.57 percent. China’s blue-chip CSI300 index was up 0.2 percent in afternoon trade while the Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.34 percent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index advanced 0.89 percent.

In Currency Markets the U.S. dollar weakened in early European trade Friday, on course for a weekly loss, amid uncertainty over the extent of the Federal Reserve’s future tightening path. The euro rose 0.2 percent to $1.0617, climbing off a near two-month low of $1.0533 at the start of the week. Sterling rose 0.3 percent to $1.1980, remaining under $1.20 as expectations grow that the Bank of England will pause its tightening cycle before its major peers given the weakness of the U.K. economy. The kiwi rose 0.2 percent to $0.6227, the Aussie dollar climbed 0.3 percent to $0.6750.

In US Equity Markets stocks rallied on Thursday, as Treasury yields pulled back from earlier highs following comments from Atlanta Federal Reserve President Raphael Bostic about his favored path of interest rate hikes for the central bank. The Dow rose 1.05 percent, to 33,003.57, the S&P 500 gained 0.76 percent, to 3,981.35 and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.73 percent, to 11,462.98. Tesla Inc fell 5.85 percent after Chief Executive Elon Musk and team’s four-hour presentation failed to impress investors with few details on its plan to unveil an affordable electric vehicle.

In Commodities Markets oil prices rose on Thursday, boosted by signs of a strong economic rebound in top crude importer China and easing worries of aggressive U.S. rate hikes. Brent crude futures settled at $84.75 a barrel, gaining 0.5 percent. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures settled at $78.16 a barrel, rising 0.6 percent. Spot gold was down 0.1 percent at $1,835.03 per ounce. Spot silver fell 0.8 percent to $20.83 per ounce, platinum was up 0.7 percent at $961.43, while palladium edged 0.1 percent higher to $1,442.05.

In European Equity Markets stocks rose on Thursday boosted by consumer staples and energy stocks, but data suggesting euro zone inflation remained stubbornly high bolstered fears of more European Central Bank rate rises. The continent-wide STOXX 600 reversed early losses and closed 0.5 percent higher. Europe’s biggest lender, HSBC Holdings Plc slid 3.3 percent as it traded without the entitlement of a dividend. The bank sector index fell by 0.8 percent. Credit Suisse fell 7.0 percent and hit a fresh record low following reports this week about talent leaving the beleaguered Swiss bank.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields continued to climb on Thursday after strong labor data reinforced concerns that the U.S. Federal Reserve will need to raise interest rates further to cool the economy. Benchmark 10-year yields were trading above 4 percent on Thursday and were last seen at 4.075 percent, about eight basis points higher on the day. Two-year yields touched an intra-day high of 4.944 percent – an over 15-year high. On the long end, 30-year bond yields also broke above 4 percent for the first time since mid-November last year, and were last seen at 4.023 percent.