In Asian Equity Markets stocks rose on Friday as investors looked to end the year on an optimistic note after U.S. data showed the Federal Reserve’s aggressive monetary policy was dampening inflationary pressures even as worries over COVID cases in China persist. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.71 percent. Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.22 percent, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index closed up 0.5 percent. China’s blue-chip CSI 300 Index and the Shanghai Composite Index were both up 0.6 percent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose nearly 1 percent.

In Currency Markets the dollar firmed on Friday and was on track for its best performance in seven years, buoyed by the Federal Reserve’s aggressive monetary policy tightening and concerns about the global growth outlook. The U.S. dollar index was last firm at 103.99. The yen was last 0.4 percent higher at 132.47 per dollar. The euro fell 0.04 percent to $1.0656, and is on track for a more than 6 percent fall this year. Sterling edged 0.01 percent lower to $1.2053. The Aussie rose 0.02 percent to $0.6778, while the kiwi fell 0.31 percent to $0.6330.

In US Equity Markets main indexes closed higher on Thursday, led by growth stocks in light trading, as U.S. unemployment data signaled the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes might be starting to dent labor market strength in its bid to fight inflation. The Dow rose 1.05 percent, to 33,220.8; the S&P 500 gained 1.75 percent, at 3,849.28; and the Nasdaq Composite added 2.59 percent, at 10,478.09. Apple Inc, Alphabet Inc, Microsoft Corp and Amazon.com Inc, whose shares have been battered in the past few sessions, each gained more than 2.5 percent.

In Commodities Markets oil prices fell for a second straight session on Thursday on an uncertain demand outlook as more countries considered restrictions on Chinese travelers with COVID-19 infections spreading in the top oil-importing nation. Brent crude futures for February delivery fell by a dollar to settle at $82.26, down 1.2 percent. U.S. WTI crude futures settled at $78.40 per barrel, down by 0.7 percent. Spot gold jumped 0.7 percent to $1,817.30 per ounce. Spot silver rose 1.8 percent to $23.94 per ounce. Platinum was up 4.6 percent to $1,054.32, while palladium rose 1.7 percent to $1,814.75.

In European Equity Markets stocks closed higher on Thursday, with technology stocks leading gains, buoyed by Wall Street cheer after U.S. jobless data eased concerns about the Federal Reserve’s aggressive tightening cycle. The region-wide STOXX 600 rose 0.7 percent. For the year so far, it has fallen nearly 12 percent as investors head into 2023 in a wary mood.  European miners fell 0.4 percent, making it the only major sector in the red, as it tracked base metal prices that reflected concerns about demand recovery in top consumer China.

In Bond Markets the yield on the benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury note fell on Thursday following three straight sessions of gains, as labor market data showed new claims for unemployment benefits increased last week. The yield on 10-year Treasury notes was down 4.7 basis points to 3.839 percent. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was down 5.2 basis points to 3.925 percent. The two-year U.S. Treasury yield, which typically moves in step with interest rate expectations, was up 1.3 basis points at 4.372 percent.