In Asian Equity Markets stocks turned mixed on Monday as data on Chinese retail sales missed expectations though industrial output stayed solid, while more evidence of global inflation pressures helped gold to a three-month peak. Chinese retail sales rose 17.7 percent in April on a year ago, while industrial output matched expectations with a rise of 9.8 percent. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan eked out a rise of 0.2 percent. Chinese blue chips proved resilient with a gain of 1.8 percent, while Japan’s Nikkei lost 0.7 percent.

In Currency Markets the U.S. dollar was supported on Monday amid renewed worries about coronavirus restrictions in Asia, but investors are heavily positioned for it to fall while the U.S. Federal Reserve keeps rates low. The dollar last traded at $1.2135 per euro and has support around $1.2179. The dollar index is likewise, at 90.367. It bought 109.32 yen and traded at $0.7759 per Aussie and $0.7223 per kiwi. Sterling was perched near a two-and-a-half-month high on Monday, at $1.4088, as Britain reopens its economy after a four-month COVID lockdown.

In US Equity Markets stocks closed higher in a broad rally, an upbeat conclusion to whipsaw week of buying and selling as signs of a rebounding economy squared off against mounting inflation jitters. The Dow rose 1.06 percent, to 34,382.13, the S&P 500 gained 1.49 percent, to 4,173.85 and the Nasdaq Composite added 2.32 percent, to 13,429.98. All 11 major S&P sectors ended the session green, with energy boosted by rebounding crudes prices, enjoying the largest percentage gain, rising 3.2 percent. The Philadelphia SE Semiconductor index rose 3 percent.

In Commodities Markets oil futures rose on Friday to settle higher for the week, as a key U.S. fuel pipeline reopened after being shut down for days in response to a ransomware attack. WTI crude rose 2.4 percent, to settle at $65.37 a barrel while Brent crude gained 2.5 percent to finish at $ 68.71 a barrel. Spot gold rose 0.6 percent to $1,838.05 per ounce, heading for a second week of gains. U.S. gold futures settled 0.8 percent higher at $1,838.1. Elsewhere, palladium rose 1.1 percent to $2,894.21 per ounce, while platinum gained 1.3 percent to $1,221.53. Silver rose 0.7 percent to $27.26 per ounce.

In European Equity Markets stocks rose on Friday, led by gains in energy and retail sectors after the Federal Reserve said there would be no imminent move to tighten monetary policy, easing fears of rising U.S. inflation that pushed the STOXX 600 index into negative territory for the week. The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 1.1 percent, with oil & gas and retail stocks leading the gains. In London the FTSE 100 gained 1.15 percent. The CAC 40 in Paris was 1.54 percent higher and Frankfurt’s DAX climbed 1.43 percent.

In Bond Markets treasury yields fell on Friday after U.S. retail sales unexpectedly stalled in April as the boost from government stimulus checks faded and bond investors heeded the Federal Reserve’s view that a jump in inflation will be temporary. The yield on benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury notes fell 2.4 basis points to 1.644 percent. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was down 2.5 basis points to 2.362 percent. The break-even rate on five-year U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) edged higher to 2.69 percent from Thursday’s close of 2.671 percent.