In Asian Equity Markets indices traded cautiously on Friday morning on the back of fresh uncertainties emerging from the U.K. The Shanghai composite was down 0.32 percent and the Shenzhen composite fell 0.28 percent. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 0.87 percent. Stocks in Japan lost early gains as the Nikkei 225 traded down 0.52 percent while the Topix index shed 0.62 percent. In South Korea, the Kospi pared some of its gains to trade fractionally higher.In Australia, the ASX 200 was down 0.15 percent, with most sectors lower.

In Currency Markets investors in the British pound remained on edge in early Asian trade on Friday after the currency suffered a slide overnight on fears the country could crash out of the European Union without a divorce deal. Both the US dollar and the yen benefited from a deepening crisis for UK Prime Minister Theresa May after the resignation of key ministers from her government imperiled her Brexit plan. That left the sterling vulnerable to further losses. It was changing hands at $1.2788, after declining 1.7 percent on Thursday, its steepest percentage decline since Oct. 11 2016.

In Commodities Markets oil prices were stable on Friday, supported by expected supply cuts from OPEC but held back by record U.S. production. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures were at $56.5/ per barrel, up 12 cents from their last settlement. Brent crude oil futures were up 7 cents at $66.69 a barrel. Prices were mainly supported by expectations the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) would start withholding supply soon, fearing a renewed rout such as in 2014 when prices crashed under the weight of oversupply.

In US Equity Markets stocks rose on Thursday on optimism the United States and China could resolve their trade dispute, after a news report said Washington would pause further tariffs on Chinese imports. The S&P 500 index gained 1.06 percent, to 2,730.2, snapping five days of losses. Apple Inc advanced 2.5 percent to end a five-day losing streak and help the technology sector climb 2.5 percent, the biggest gain among the S&P 500’s major sectors. Cisco Systems Inc advanced 5.5 percent after the network equipment maker’s quarterly revenue and earnings beat analyst estimates.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury prices drifted higher on Thursday, sending yields to two-week lows across the curve, as Britain’s draft agreement to exit the European Union ran into trouble, prompting investors to seek the safety of government bonds. At the close, benchmark 10-year Treasury note yields fell to 3.11 percent, from 3.12 percent late on Wednesday. U.S. 30-year yields, however, edged up to 3.36 percent , compared with Wednesday’s 3.355 percent. On the short end of the curve, U.S. two-year yields slipped to 2.858 percent, from 2.862 percent on Wednesday.