In Asian Equity Markets stocks were cautiously higher on Friday, while the dollar firmed slightly as traders and investors anxiously awaited a speech from Fed Chair Jerome Powell that could offer clues on the U.S. central bank’s rate-hike path. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.5 percent on the day. Resources-heavy Australia shares gained 0.9 percent while Japan’s Nikkei advanced 0.6 percent. China’s CSI 300 index was almost flat at the end of the morning session, while the Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.1 percent.

In Currency Markets the dollar held onto recent gains against the euro and sterling on Friday ahead of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s widely-anticipated speech, which traders hope will offer clues on the U.S. central bank’s tightening plans. The euro was barely changed in Asian trade at $0.9971, having failed in several attempts this week to break back above parity against the dollar. The Japanese yen drifted weaker at 136.81 per dollar. The dollar index , which tracks the currency against six major peers, was at 108.5, on track for a 0.38 percent weekly gain and already up 2.5 percent in August.

In US Equity Markets stocks ended sharply higher on Thursday, lifted by gains in Nvidia and other technology-related stocks as investors focused on the Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole conference for clues about the central bank’s policy outlook. The S&P 500 climbed 1.41 percent to end the session at 4,199.12 points. The Nasdaq gained 1.67 percent to 12,639.27 points, while the Dow rose 0.98 percent to 33,291.78 points. Salesforce Inc fell 3.4 percent after it cut its annual forecasts over “measured” spending from clients and a hit from a stronger dollar.

In Commodities Markets oil prices fell by about $2 a barrel on Thursday in volatile trade as investors braced for the possible return to global markets of sanctioned Iranian oil exports and on worries that rising U.S. interest rates would weaken fuel demand. Brent crude settled at $99.34 a barrel, shedding 1.9 percent. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude settled at $92.52 a barrel, losing 2.5 percent. Spot gold rose 0.3 percent to $1,756.55 per ounce. Spot silver rose 0.2 percent to $19.19 per ounce, platinum gained 0.3 percent to $879.11 per ounce. Palladium bounced 5.4 percent to $2,144.07 per ounce.

In European Equity Markets stocks ended higher on Thursday as oil and tech stocks rose, although gains were capped by mounting concerns over a possible recession induced by an energy crisis. The pan-European STOXX 600 rose 0.3 percent. Energy shares jumped 1.2 percent to near 12-week highs as crude prices climbed on mounting supply concerns. Germany’s DAX rose 0.4 percent as data showed its economy expanded by 0.1 percent in the second quarter, beating expectations. Shares in Swiss group Novartis, which plans to spin off its generics unit, Sandoz, ended 0.8 percent lower.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields slid on Thursday after hitting multi-week highs the previous session, as investors balanced their positions amid uncertainty as to what Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell might say when he speaks on Friday at a global central bank conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. In afternoon trading, the yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes was down 6.3 bps at 3.0444 percent. U.S. 30-year bond yields fell 7.9 bps to 3.2415 percent. The two-year yield, which tracks U.S. rate expectations, was down 1.4 bps at 3.3722 percent.