· European markets open mixed on Friday morning as investors watch out for developments in U.S. politics, new earnings and fresh data.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 was 0.05 percent higher with sectors and major bourses moving in different directions.
· Asia stocks shook off losses on Wall Street and edged up to record highs on Friday following China’s announcement of faster-than-expected fourth quarter growth, while worries over a possible U.S. government shutdown weighed on the dollar.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS added 0.4 percent to a record top. The index had climbed 1.3 percent on the week, during which it rode a surge in global equities.
· Japan’s Nikkei share average edged up on Friday with financial stocks leading the gains after U.S. yields rose, while GMO Internet soared after an activist fund called on the company to change its governance structure.
The Nikkei rose 0.2 percent to 23,808.06. For the week, it gained 0.7 percent.
· China stocks ended at fresh two-year highs on Friday, with the Shanghai index posting its fifth straight week of gains, as banks extended their rally and after the country posted its first acceleration in full-year growth in seven years.
At the close, the Shanghai Composite index was up 14.35 points or 0.41 percent at 3,489.11.
Reference: Reuters, CNBC
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