· European markets opened higher on Friday morning, as investors reacted to the latest news surrounding Brexit negotiations.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 opened 0.54 percent shortly after the opening bell, with all sectors and major bourses in positive territory.
· Asian shares rallied for a second session on Friday as economic news from China and Japan beat all expectations and investors marveled at the meteoric ascent of bitcoin, the market’s new crypto-star.
Australian stocks put on 0.3 percent while MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS rose 0.7 percent.
· Japanese stocks rose on Friday on gains for most sectors after Wall Street climbed overnight, while Japan Display jumped on hopes that Apple may use liquid crystal technology on one of its new smartphones.
The Nikkei 225 share average ended 1.4 percent higher at 22,811.08, staying comfortably above the settlement price of December Nikkei futures and options contracts at 22,590.66.
· China stocks ended higher on Friday, as better-than-expected Chinese trade data underpinned market sentiment.
At the close, the Shanghai Composite index was up 18.11 points or 0.55 percent at 3,290.17 points.
The blue-chip CSI300 index was up 0.82 percent, with its financial sector sub-index higher by 0.61 percent, the consumer staples sector up 2.28 percent, the real estate index down 0.17 percent and healthcare sub-index up 0.88percent.
· Hong Kong stocks rose the most in two weeks on Friday, aided by a sharp rebound in Tencent Holdings, and better-than-expected China November trade data.
At close of trade, the Hang Seng index was up 336.66 points or 1.19 percent at 28,639.85. The Hang Seng China Enterprises index rose 1.25 percent to 11,289.57.
Reference: Reuters, CNBC
Thai
Eng