Asian shares inched higher on Friday as economic stimulus around the world eased fears of economic deceleration while crude oil prices climbed on concerns that last weekend’s attacks on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities still pose supply risks.
Asian Shares
- Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.34% to come within striking distance of its year-to-date peak.
- MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan is on course to post its first weekly loss in five, although it rose 0.08% early on Friday.
- The S&P 500 ended flat on Thursday
Currency
- The euro was at $1.10455, staying in a holding pattern this week.
- Sterling traded at $1.2525, up 0.02% so far on the day, having hit a two-month high of $1.2560 on Thursday.
- The yen traded flat at 108.03 yen to the dollar, off 1-1/2 month low of 108.48 yen hit on Wednesday.
Commodities
- Brent crude futures rose 0.78% to $64.90 a barrel.
- U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 1.14% to $58.79 per barrel.
