In Asian Equity Markets stocks were mixed on Monday as a top U.S. central banker warned investors against getting carried away over one inflation number, while Chinese stocks gained on signs of aid for the country’s hard-hit property sector. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan added 1.1 percent, after jumping 7.7 percent last week. Japan’s Nikkei eased 0.8 percent, while South Korea went flat. Dealers were also waiting to see if Chinese stocks could extend their big rally amid reports regulators have asked financial institutions to extend more support to stressed property developers.

In Currency Markets the U.S. dollar steadied on Monday after Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said the central bank was not softening its fight against inflation, which made some investors think that the steep sell-off last week was probably overdone. The Japanese yen weakened 0.60 percent versus the greenback at 139.63 per dollar, while the euro was down 0.47 percent to $1.0303. The risk-sensitive Australian and New Zealand dollars fell, giving up some gains made after China moderated its zero COVID strategy. Sterling was swaying at $1.1747, down 0.74 percent on the day.

In US Equity Markets the S&P 500 and Nasdaq ended sharply higher on Friday, extending a rally started the day before after a soft inflation reading raised hopes the Federal Reserve would get less aggressive with U.S. interest rate hikes. The S&P 500 climbed 0.93 percent to end the session at 3,993.05 points. The Nasdaq gained 1.88 percent to 11,323.33 points, while Dow rose 0.10 percent to 33,749.18 points. The S&P 500 growth index, which includes interest rate-sensitive technology stocks, rose 1.6 percent, beating the value index’s gain of 0.3 percent.

In Commodities Markets oil prices settled higher on Friday but fell week-on-week after health authorities in China eased some of the country’s heavy COVID-19 curbs, raising hopes for improved economic activity and demand in the world’s top crude importer. Brent crude futures settled up $2.32 at $95.99 a barrel. U.S. WTI crude futures settled up 2.9 percent, at $88.96 a barrel. Spot gold gained 0.7 percent to $1,766.39 per ounce. Elsewhere, spot silver fell 0.3 percent to $21.6 per ounce. Platinum fell 0.4 percent to $1,027.62. Palladium climbed 2.8 percent to $2,019 and was on course for a weekly rise.

In European Equity Markets stocks notched their best weekly performance in nearly eight months on Friday, largely driven by bets of smaller rate hikes by the Federal Reserve and easing COVID-19 curbs in China. The STOXX 600 index ended the session up 0.1 percent at a 11-week high, with financial services, mining and retail stocks leading the gains. Among stocks, Europe’s largest mobile phone tower operator, Spain’s Cellnex, gained 1.6 percent after posting a 45 percent rise in nine-month core earnings. The European basic resources jumped 2.6 percent as prices of base metals shot up.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields plunged on Thursday after data showed U.S. inflation cooled in October, supporting expectations the Federal Reserve could slow its tightening pace. The U.S. 10-year yield fell to a five-week low of 3.824 percent. It was last down 29.8 basis points (bps) at 3.844 percent, on pace for the largest daily fall since March 2009. The U.S two-year yield, which reflects rate move expectations, slid to a more than one-week low of 4.29 percent and was last down 29.6 bps at 4.334 percent.