In Asian Equity Markets shares extended gains on Friday after US markets rebounded as technology stocks there touched all-time highs. Japan led gains in the region, with the benchmark Nikkei 225 jumping 1.58 percent as stocks extended Thursday’s gains, with the yen weaker on the day. Among index heavyweights, Fast Retailing advanced 6.89 percent after posting robust earnings overnight while Fanuc gained 1.69 percent. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index edged higher by 0.5 percent, with consumer goods and services contributing to overall gains.

In Currency Markets the US dollar was trading near a 10-day peak on Friday, supported by Treasury yields that edged higher on expectations the U.S. inflation rate will rise. The dollar index against a basket of six major currencies was up 0.1 percent to 94.875 and was close to 94.941, the 10-day peak scaled a day earlier. The index has risen 0.9 percent on the week. As the dollar held firm, the euro remained sluggish, standing little changed at $1.1662, having pulled away from a 3-1/2 week high of $1.17905 touched on Monday.

In Commodities Markets oil prices edged lower on Friday and were set for a second weekly fall, as the market shrugged off a warning that spare capacity may be stretched as OPEC and Russia increase production. Brent crude eased 36 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $74.09. On Thursday it gained $1.05 a barrel, rebounding from a session low of $72.67. It is heading for a weekly fall of nearly 4 percent. U.S. crude fell 4 cents to $70.29, after a five cent decline in the previous session. It is heading for a weekly decline of nearly 5 percent.

In US Equity Markets stocks climbed on Thursday as top technology names hit record highs and industrials rebounded from losses driven by trade worries the day before. The technology index rose 1.8 percent, the day’s best-performing sector, and the group is now leading year-to-date gains among sectors. The S&P industrials index rose 1.1 percent. Health care also gained about 1.1 percent. The S&P 500 gained 0.87 percent, to 2,798.29 and the Nasdaq Composite added1.39 percent, to 7,823.92.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields edged higher on Thursday as economic data showed U.S. inflation buildup remained modest and labor markets were strong, reinforcing expectations the Federal Reserve will maintain its rate increase schedule. U.S. 2-year note yields earlier reached 2.602 percent, matching a level seen a month ago that was the highest since August 2008. Benchmark 10-year Treasuries yielded 2.853 percent. The Treasury sold $14 billion worth of 30-year bonds , wrapping up three days of auctions that increased coupon-bearing government debt by $69 billion.