In European Equity Markets the pan-European Stoxx 600 index closed up almost 1.3%, with all sectors and major bourses in positive territory. A technical glitch prevented Britain’s FTSE 100 from opening for almost two hours on Friday morning. It was the index’s longest outage in eight years. The bourse closed about 0.7% higher. Europe’s bank and utility stocks led the gains, with both sectors surging about 2.4% and 1.7%.  Netherlands’ Imcd fell 15%, to the bottom of the index after reporting first-half earnings on Friday. The firm’s CEO warned of uncertain and volatile market conditions.

In Currency Markets the U.S. dollar rallied on Friday on bullish economic data and hit a two-week high against the euro as expectations of central bank stimulus weighed on the single currency. The biggest move against the dollar was in Norway’s crown, which fell to more than a 17-year low of 9.0375 against the greenback in early Friday. The crown extended its selloff after the Norges Bank said on Thursday its plan for an interest rate rise this year was now more uncertain. Measured against a basket of six other major currencies the dollar was higher by 0.05% at 98.195.

In Commodities Markets crude oil prices rose on Friday, recovering from two days of declines, after data showing a rise in U.S. retail sales helped to ease recession concerns, although a bearish outlook from OPEC capped gains. Brent crude was up 28 cents at $58.51 a barrel at 1326 GMT, after falling 2.1% on Thursday and 3% the previous day. U.S. crude fell 19 cents to $54.28 a barrel, having dropped 1.4% in the previous session and 3.3% on Wednesday. U.S. retail sales rose 0.7% in July as consumers bought a range of goods even as they cut back on vehicle purchases.

In US Equity Markets hopes of more official stimulus for the economy and the easing of a bond market rally drove a broad rise in U.S. stocks on Friday, as a bruising week for markets drew to a close. The S&P 500 was up 0.83%, at 2,871.16. The Nasdaq Composite was up 1.07%, at 7,849.65. All of the 11 major S&P sectors were higher, with technology stocks providing the biggest boost. General Electric Co jumped 6.2% as Chief Executive Officer Larry Culp bought nearly $2 million worth of shares a day after recording their biggest one-day percentage fall in 11 years.

In Bond Markets benchmark U.S. Treasury yields rose on Friday on a report that Germany may be open to running a deficit to boost growth, while stronger stock markets also reduced demand for safe haven debt. Government bond yields plunged this week on concerns about global growth, and the closely-watched U.S. yield curve between 2-year and 10-year notes inverted for the first time since 2007 on Wednesday, signaling that a U.S. recession is likely in one-to-two years. Benchmark 10-year notes were last down 15/32 in price to yield 1.578%.