In Asian Equity Markets the Nikkei 225 in Japan advanced 0.32% in morning trade as shares of index heavyweight Fanuc rose 1.52%. Over in South Korea, the Kospi rose 0.21%. Shares of industry heavyweight Samsung Electronics fell 0.11% after the company warned that its first-quarter profits likely fell almost 60% as compared to a year ago. Australia’s ASX 200 fell 0.92% as almost all sectors declined. The stock markets in China and Hong Kong are closed on Friday for a holiday.
In Currency Markets the U.S. dollar rose to a three-week high versus the yen on Friday, lifted by expectations that a protracted trade dispute between the United States and China would be resolved soon. The greenback has gained about 0.85 percent against its safe-haven Japanese peer this week, thanks also to factors such as strong U.S. economic data and broad improvement in risk appetite. The euro was steady at $1.1223, capped firmly after data released on Thursday showed German industrial order dropped in February.
In Commodities Markets oil prices fell on Friday, with Brent slipping away from the $70 mark after briefly rising above that level in the previous session, as traders fretted about progress in U.S.-China talks to end a trade war. International benchmark Brent futures fell 23 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $69.17 a barrel. On Thursday, they closed 9 cents higher after touching a session high of $70.03, the highest since Nov. 12. U.S. WTI crude was down 2 cents at $62.08. The contract fell 36 cents in the previous session, having hit $62.99 on Wednesday, its highest since November.
In US Equity Markets the S&P 500 stock index edged higher, nearing a six-month high on Thursday, with losses in technology stocks countered by gains in Boeing Co and Facebook Inc as investors waited for more clarity on the U.S.-China trade talks. The S&P 500 gained 0.21%, to 2,879.39 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.05%, to 7,891.78. Gains in Facebook and Boeing shares helped push the S&P 500 forward. Boeing climbed 2.9%, adding the most to gains on the Dow and the S&P industrial index, which rose 0.6%.
In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields fell modestly on Thursday, below 1-1/2-week highs, as traders awaited a possible breakthrough in the latest round of trade negotiations between China and the United States. the yields on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes were 2.513%, down marginally from late on Wednesday. They hit a 1-1/2-week peak of 2.528% in the previous session. Global bond yields have risen this week on encouraging economic data, in particular from China.