In Asian Equity Markets indices rose on the last trading day of the quarter, with regional markets turning higher through the session as China recovered slightly from a recent slump amid worries over trade tensions between Washington and Beijing. Japanese stocks pared earlier declines, with the Nikkei 225 up 0.1 percent. Banks and pharmaceutical stocks led the move higher. In South Korea, the Kospi moved back into positive territory, last trading higher by 0.29 percent. Most tech plays climbed, with Samsung Electronics gaining 0.32 percent.
In Currency Markets the euro jumped more than a half cent on Friday after European Union leaders reached an agreement on migration, a thorny issue that has threatened EU unity and the fate of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The euro rose as high as $1.1650, extending its recovery from the one-week low of $1.15275 touched on Thursday, after EU leaders reached the deal on migration. The deal improved risk sentiment, undermining the yen while lifting growth-linked currencies such as the Australian dollar.
In Commodities Markets oil prices fell on Friday amid escalating trade friction between the United States and other major economies, although crude markets remain tight due to supply disruptions and generally high demand. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $73.19 a barrel, down 26 cents, or 0.4 percent, from their last settlement. WTI on Thursday hit its highest since November 2014 at $74.03 per barrel. Brent crude futures were at $77.74 per barrel, down 11 cents, or 0.1 percent.
In US Equity Markets stocks rose on Thursday as technology and other growth sectors rebounded from the prior day’s declines and financial shares snapped a 13-day losing streak. The technology sector rose 1.1 percent, adding the most gains to the S&P 500. The sector’s top gainer was consulting firm Accenture PLC, which rose 5.9 percent after it reported quarterly revenue and profit above estimates. The S&P 500 gained 0.62 percent, to 2,716.31, and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.79 percent, to 7,503.68.
In Bond Markets Japanese government bond prices edged lower on Friday as the market was weighed by an overnight retreat in U.S. Treasuries, although shaky domestic stocks limited the losses. The five-year and 20-year JGB yields rose by half a basis point to minus 0.110 percent and 0.500 percent , respectively. The benchmark 10-year JGB yield has moved between 0.020 percent and 0.095 percent this year and it has recently drifted towards the lower end of this band.