Stocks rebounded on the final trading day of a volatile week, aided by a weaker dollar and softer oil prices, even as the Middle East war showed little sign of easing. Gold and silver rose. Equity-index futures for Europe jumped almost 1% and those for Wall Street gauges also advanced. Asian shares erased earlier losses to edge up 0.1%, helped by Chinese technology companies. Crude oil dropped as the US weighed a range of options to address the spike in energy costs amid the war in Iran. Treasuries were little changed and the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index fell 0.1% ahead of Friday’s US payrolls report, which may offer fresh clues on the path of Federal Reserve interest rates. Even as sentiment stabilized on Friday, Asia’s benchmark stock index was set for its worst week since March 2020, having dropped 6.3% since the Iran war began. Funds are pulling money from the region at the fastest pace in four years. Amid the worsening crisis, the dollar reclaimed its status as the haven of choice and is poised for its best week since November 2024. Sharp swings across asset classes have unsettled traders as headlines from the US-Israeli offensive against Iran impact markets. With crude headed for its biggest weekly jump since 2022, investors fear a renewed inflation spike even as equity valuations remain stretched after a rally fueled by bets on artificial intelligence. A barrage of Iranian missiles and drones targeted at least five countries across the Middle East, prompting several governments to urge their citizens to take shelter. Israel meanwhile carried out a 12th wave of airstrikes on Tehran and the US suspended operations at its embassy in Kuwait. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News that his country hadn’t asked for a ceasefire and had no intention of negotiating. The US also remained defiant. Trump told Axios he should be involved in selecting Iran’s next leader, the outlet reported, citing an interview with the president. Meanwhile, the US issued a general license to allow for some Russian oil sales to India, giving the Asian nation more options to purchase fuel as the war on Iran leads to a spike in global prices. Brent crude fell 0.4% on Friday to about $85 a barrel. Gold rose 0.7% to $5,115 an ounce, while silver jumped 1.8%. Stocks have whipsawed across Asia and emerging markets this week. South Korea, for example, suffered its worst crash ever on Wednesday, only to bounce back on Thursday. The benchmark Kospi Index — a poster child for AI investments — fell 1.1% on Friday, but is still the second-best-performing market in the world this year. The employment report due Friday is expected to show hiring moderated last month after a strong reading in January, and unemployment held steady. “The stronger the better given the increase in inflation expectations due to energy prices,” the JPMorgan Market Intelligence desk led by Andrew Tyler said. “A weaker number will increase rate cut expectations, but the risk is stagflation in the near term.” US After Hours MRVL +13.7%, IOT +11.4%, PTRN +10.7%, SWBI +10.3%, GWRE +4.7% higher on earnings; GAP -8.6%, COST -0.1% lower on earnings.
Nikkei +0.62% Hang Seng +1.50% CSI +0.19% Shanghai +0.33% Shenzen +0.86%
Eur$ 1.1661 CNH 6.9019 CNY 6.9003 JPY 157.75 GBP 1.3368 CHF 0.7806 RUB 78.6599 TRY 44.0744 WTI$ 80.62 -0.49% Gold 5,117.5 +0.70% BTC 70,645 -0.70% ETH 2,075 -0.24%
S&P +0.16% Nasdaq +0.26% EuroStoxx +0.90% FTSE +0.54% Dax +0.84% SMI -0.18%
Macro :
- Paris Global Nuclear Summit to See Funding Pledges: Presidency
- Jet Fuel Prices Spike Across US as Iran War Tightens Supply
Keep an eye on :
Keep an eye on :
- AIR FP : Airbus Says FCAS Combat-Jet Project Has Been ‘Taken Hostage’
- ATO FP : Atos Sees 2026 Operating Margin 7%
- BPOST BB : Bnode Sees 2026 Adjusted Ebit EU165M to EU195M, Est. EU183.2M
- IAG LN : IAG, Airlines in Focus as Iran War Poses ‘Operational Challenge’
- COTN SW : Comet FY Ebitda Misses Estimates
- DHER GY : Delivery Hero May Redeem Convertible Bonds in 1H 2026
- ELABS NO : Elliptic Laboratories Offering Prices at NOK2.85/Share
- ENI IM : ENI Reaches Settlement Deal With Nigeria Over Oil Licence 245
- EL FP : EssilorLuxottica Heir Nears Deal to Buy Out Siblings: FT
- GAP US : Gap Sees FY Net Sales +2% to +3%*GAP FALLS 10% AS 4Q COMP SALES COME IN LIGHTER THAN EXPECTED
- GPRO US : GoPro 4Q Adjusted Loss per Share 2.0C Vs. Loss/Shr 9.0C Y/y
- IMI LN : IMI FY Adjusted Revenue Beats Estimates
- LXS GYU : Lanxess: Advent Won’t Take Over Stake in Envalior JV in 2026
- LHA GY : Lufthansa Sees 'Significant' Earnings Improvement in 2026 (2)
- LLOY LN : Lloyds Plans to Sell More Customer Data to Third Parties: FT
- MRVL US : *MARVELL TECHNOLOGY SHARES EXTEND GAIN TO 12%
- MUX GY : Mutares Signs Deal to Sell Portfolio Company Intime Group
- MEDCL FP : Medincell to Offer Shares Totaling ~6% of the Company
- NVDA US : US Drafts Rules for Sweeping Power Over Nvidia’s Global Sales
- PNDORA DC : Pandora Sues US to Recover Tariffs After Court Ruling: Borsen
- REN PL : REN FY Net Income Beats Estimates
- ROG SW : Roche, Zealand Shot Helped Patients Lose 10.7% of Weight
- SBBB SS : SBB Ratings Withdrawn by S&P at Issuer’s Request
- SFSN SW : SFS FY Dividend per Share Misses Estimates
- SNR LN : Advent Mulling Position on Senior, Says 272p/Shr Bid Was Denied
- 9984 JP : SoftBank Seeks Record Loan of Up to $40 Billion for OpenAI Stake
- SPIE FP : Spie Ups 2028 Ebita Margin Goal; Names Holzke CEO, Jeantet Chair
- 4XO GY : Steyr Motors Maintains 2026 Ebit Margin Forecast
- TOKMAN FH : Tokmanni Sees 2026 Net Sales EU1.78B to EU1.86B, Est. EU1.82B
- UMG NA : Universal Music Tops Sales Estimates, Scraps Plan for US Listing
- UMG NA : Universal Music Tops Sales Estimates, Scraps Plan for US Listing
- UNO1 GY : Uniper Holds Talks With Canada to Expand Its LNG Purchases: Rtrs
- UPS US : UPS Set to Lag FedEx in Market Value For First Time Ever
- Vincorion IPO : Defense Firm Vincorion Plans IPO in Frankfurt in 1H 2026
- ZEAL DC : Roche, Zealand Shot Helped Patients Lose 10.7% of Weight (3)