In European Equity Markets the pan-European Stoxx 600 closed 0.73 percent higher during afternoon deals, with major bourses and most sectors in positive territory. Looking at individual stocks, Volkswagen shares were down 0.3 percent, after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a lawsuit to sue the automaker and its former CEO over the diesel emissions scandal. Shares of Anglo-German travel firm Tui rose 2.4 percent after Morgan Stanley upgraded its stock to “overweight” on Thursday.

In Currency Markets the U.S. dollar fell broadly on Friday and was on track for its biggest weekly drop in more than three months, dragged lower by weak U.S. economic data, while the euro climbed higher. Sterling last traded at $1.3271, below Wednesday’s nine-month high of $1.3380 but up 2 percent so far this week. The yen remained firm after the Bank of Japan kept monetary policy steady but tempered its optimism that robust exports and factory output will underpin growth, giving a boost to its perceived safe-haven status.

In Commodities Markets U.S. crude futures briefly hit a 2019 high on Friday but later retreated along with benchmark Brent oil as worries about the global economy and robust U.S. production put a brake on prices. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures were down 48 cents at $58.13 per barrel, having hit their highest so far this year at $58.95. Brent crude futures were at $66.51 per barrel, down 72 cents from their last settlement, and below their 2019 peak of $68.14 reached on Thursday.

In US Equity Markets stocks gained ground on Friday, boosted by shares of technology companies, as sentiment was lifted by an upbeat note on trade talks between the United States and China. The S&P 500 was up 0.43 percent, at 2,820.50 and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.81 percent, at 7,693.03. Photoshop maker Adobe Inc fell 4.7 percent, the most on the S&P, after its current-quarter revenue forecast fell below analysts’ estimates. Facebook Inc fell 3 percent after the social media giant said its Chief Product Officer Chris Cox would be leaving the company.

In Bond Markets benchmark 10-year and 2-year U.S. Treasury yields on Friday fell to their lowest levels since early January, weighed down by weaker-than-expected U.S. economic data that suggested the Federal Reserve will hold interest rates steady for the rest of the year. U.S. 10-year prices rose, as yields fell to 2.581 percent from 2.63 percent late on Thursday. On the short end of the curve, U.S. 2-year yields fell to 2.433 percent, compared with Thursday’s 2.461 percent , after earlier dropping to 2.430 percent, the lowest since January 4.