In Asian Equity Markets indices were mixed on Friday as investors awaited developments on the trade front ahead of the expected unveiling of U.S. tariffs targeting China. The Nikkei 225 rose 0.39 percent, paring some of its more than 200-point decline in the last session. Oil-related names traded higher, with the Topix oil and coal products subindex up 1.89 percent. Pharmaceuticals stocks also gained, trading higher by 1.71 percent. Over in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 jumped 1.27 percent, outperforming other major markets in the region.

In Currency Markets the euro on Friday was headed for its worst weekly loss in 19 months after a cautious European Central Bank signaled it will keep interest rates at record lows well into next year. Following a closely-watched meeting on Thursday, the ECB said it will end its massive bond purchase scheme by the end of this year, taking its biggest step towards dismantling crisis-era stimulus. The single currency fell nearly 1.9 percent on Thursday, its largest one-day fall since Britain’s June 2016 Brexit vote shock.

In Commodities Markets brent oil prices extended declines on Friday, as Saudi Arabia and Russia, architects of a producer deal to cut output, indicated ahead of a key OPEC meeting in Vienna next week that production could rise. Brent crude was down 17 cents, or 0.2 percent, at $75.77 a barrel, after settling down 80 cents the session before. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 2 cents at $66.91 a barrel, having settled up 25 cents. It touched a two-week high of $67.16 on Thursday.

In US Equity Markets the S&P 500 edged up and the Nasdaq reached another record closing high on Thursday after the ECB said it would avoid raising interest rates until mid-2019, and data showed U.S. economic strength. The S&P 500 gained 0.25 percent, to 2,782.49 and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.85 percent, to 7,761.04. The rate-sensitive financial sector was the biggest percentage loser of the S&P 500, led by a 1.8 percent decline in JP Morgan Chase shares. Utilities, consumer discretionary and telecommunications showed the biggest sector gains.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields fell on Thursday after the European Central Bank signaled it will hold rates low for longer than many investors expected. Benchmark 10-year notes gained 10/32 in price with yields falling to 2.944 percent, from 2.979 percent on Wednesday. Yields briefly rose after the U.S. Commerce Department reported that U.S. retail sales increased more than expected in May. It said retail sales rose 0.8 percent last month, the biggest advance since November 2017.