In Asian Equity Markets stocks rose on Friday, setting the region up for a weekly gain, as investors tempered fears about hot inflation and the prospects of an early tapering of stimulus by the Federal Reserve. Japan’s Nikkei rose 1 percent, while MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan added 0.6 percent. Taiwan’s tech-heavy stock index climbed 1.8 percent, leading gains in the region, while Chinese blue chips added 0.3 percent. For the week, an index of stocks across Asia-Pacific was set for a 1.9 percent advance.

In Currency Markets the dollar was pinned near milestone lows on Friday, and headed for a weekly loss, as traders’ initial concerns at taper talk in Federal Reserve minutes ebbed – with actual tapering seeming distant – while pandemic recovery boosted other currencies. The dollar index is at 89.795, just a fraction above a three-month low of 89.686 struck before the Fed minutes were published. Against the yen the dollar was steady at 108.84. Sterling last traded steady at $1.4185. The kiwi last bought $0.7198 and the Aussie $0.7773.

In US Equity Markets Wall Street’s main indexes rebounded on Thursday after a three-day slide, buoyed by gains in technology stocks as the smallest weekly jobless claims since the start of a pandemic-driven recession lifted the mood. The Dow rose 0.55 percent, to 34,084.15, the S&P 500 gained 1.06 percent, to 4,159.12 and the Nasdaq Composite added 1.77 percent, to 13,535.74. Retailers were a weak spot. Ralph Lauren Corp lost 7.01 percent after it forecast full-year sales below analysts’ estimates, making it the largest percentage decliner on the S&P 500.

In Commodities Markets gold hovered on Thursday close to a more than four-month peak it scaled in the previous session, fueled by a decline in the dollar and U.S. yields as investors shrugged off the Fed’s hints on possible tapering of economic support measures. Spot gold rose 0.6 percent to $1,880.22 per ounce. U.S. gold futures settled little changed at $1,881.90. Oil prices fell more than 2 percent after diplomats said progress was made toward a deal to lift U.S. sanctions on Iran. Brent crude fell 2.3 percent, to settle at $65.11 a barrel. WTI crude ended 2.1 percent, lower at $62.05 a barrel.

In European Equity Markets stocks rose on Thursday after one of the worst selloffs this year as strong earnings and merger talks in the chip sector helped investors look past inflation worries. The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 1.3 percent. Tech stocks gained 2.7 percent to lead sectoral gains. Oslo-listed chipmaker Nordic Semiconductor rose 9.8 percent to the top of STOXX 600 after an Italian daily reported that Franco-Italian rival STMicroelectronics is mulling an offer to buy the company. Deutsche Telekom added 2.5 percent on raising its medium-term core profit outlook.

In Bond Markets yields on nominal U.S. Treasury debt and inflation-linked securities fell on Thursday after factory activity in the U.S. mid-Atlantic region slowed in May from a record pace, casting doubt on how fast the economy can continue to roar. The yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes fell 5.1 basis points to 1.632 percent. The breakeven rate on five-year TIPS slid to 2.598 percent, after closing at 2.646 percent on Wednesday. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was down 4.7 basis points to 2.340 percent.