In European Equity Markets the pan-European Stoxx 600 finished up 0.35 percent with almost every sector in positive territory. Autos were the top performing sector, with Faurecia leading the gains, up more than 5 percent. The French auto equipment firm said that it’s to buy Clarion and launch a Japan-based business group in April. Looking at individual stocks, WPP jumped 5 percent towards the top of the European benchmark after the company said it had seen a good reaction to its restructuring plan.

In Currency Markets the pound fell on Friday after survey data showed British factories slashing jobs in February but is headed for its biggest weekly rise in a month on receding fears that Britain will leave the European Union without a deal. The pound edged 0.2 percent lower at $1.3240. For the week, it is up 1.5 percent. Against the euro, the pound was down by a similar magnitude at 85.88 pence. Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said this week the central bank would probably give more support to the economy if it suffers the shock of a no-deal Brexit, though its options are limited.

In Commodities Markets oil prices reversed course on Friday, falling 2 percent as bearish U.S. manufacturing data stoked concerns over global energy demand growth. The ISM manufacturing activity index in February fell to the lowest since November 2016, and was below expectations.  U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures fell $1.11 to $56.11 a barrel. The contract had earlier hit a high of $57.88. Global benchmark Brent crude futures for May fell $1.26 to $65.05 a barrel, after earlier touching a session high of $67.14.

In US Equity Markets main indexes bounced on Friday after data showed U.S. inflationary pressures remained tame and as strong economic data from China helped feed into optimism around trade. The consumer discretionary sector gained 1.14 percent, helped by gains in shares of Nike Inc, Gap Inc and Foot Locker. Shares of Foot Locker climbed 8.82 percent after the footwear retailer handily beat quarterly same store sales estimates and helped drive a 1.9 percent gain in supplier Nike Inc shares. The S&P 500 was up 0.80 percent, at 2,806.81 and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.75 percent, at 7,589.39.

In Bond Markets Germany’s long-dated government bond yields touched 0.2 percent for the first time in almost a month on Friday and were set for their biggest weekly jump in over a year, reflecting easing concern about the global growth outlook and political risks. Germany’s 10-year bond yield rose to 0.21 percent , its highest in over three weeks — a move that coincided with U.S. 10-year Treasury yields rising to 2.74 percent, also their highest since early February. British 10-year bond yields have jumped 15 bps this week close to their biggest weekly rise since September 2017.