· Markets in Europe are expected to open mixed on Friday morning as investors digest further earnings and data
The FTSE 100 is seen down by 16 points at 7,370; the DAX is expected to open higher by 24 points at 13,067; and the CAC 40 is set to start up by 2 points at 5,335, according to IG.
· Asian shares rose firmly on Friday as strong U.S. earnings and a step forward in Congress on U.S. tax reform brightened the mood, even though investors noted that many hurdles remain to passage of a deal on tax cuts.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS rose 0.8 percent while Japan's Nikkei .N225 gained 0.4 percent, extending its recovery from a near three-week intraday low hit on Thursday.
· Japan’s Nikkei share average rose to a one-week high on Friday, helped by gains in most sectors while chip-related stocks such as Sumco and Tokyo Electron outperformed.
The Nikkei ended 0.2 percent higher to 22,396.80, the highest closing since Nov. 10. However, it fell 1.3 percent for the week, snapping a nine-week winning streak.
· Shanghai stocks fell on Friday and posted their worst week in three months, amid worries over the health of the world’s second largest economy.
The blue-chip CSI300 index rose 0.4 percent for the day, to 4,120.85 points, while the Shanghai Composite Index closed down 0.5 percent to 3,382.91 points.
Reference: Reuters,CNBC
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