In European Equity Markets the pan-European Stoxx 600 closed 0.41 percent higher. Basic resources jumped as trade concerns eased and corporates brought positive news to the market. Oil and gas stocks were also higher, after BP agreed to buy U.S. shale oil and gas assets from global miner BHP Billiton. Telecoms were the best performing sector, up by 2.2 percent, on strong earnings. Carrefour rose 12.84 percent after reporting a profit increase in the first half of the year, whereas Kering fell 7.54 percent after Gucci sales came in slightly weaker than forecasts.

In Currency Markets the US dollar fell slightly against a basket of currencies on Friday as data showing the U.S. economy rang up its strongest quarter in nearly four years failed to erase worries that trade frictions would be a drag in the second half of 2018. The euro stabilized following its biggest one-day loss in a month in reaction to the European Central Bank on Thursday reaffirming its plan to slowly end its accommodative monetary policy. The euro was up 0.07 percent at $1.16510, while the greenback was down 0.2 percent at 110.99 yen.

In Commodities Markets oil prices eased on Friday but Brent was still set to record a weekly gain helped by easing trade tensions and Saudi Arabia’s decision to halt crude transport through a key shipping lane. Brent futures were down 9 cents at $74.45 a barrel but on track for the first weekly increase in four. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures were 25 cents down at $69.37 and set for a fourth week of declines. Any move to block the strait would virtually halt oil shipments through Egypt’s Suez Canal and the SUMED crude pipeline linking the Red Sea and Mediterranean.

In US Equity Markets stocks rose on Friday as earnings from Amazon lifted consumer discretionary stocks and data showed that the U.S. economy grew at its fastest pace in nearly four years. Amazon.com jumped as much as 4 percent to hit a record high of $1,880, the biggest boost to the Nasdaq and the S&P 500. Intel’s 7.9 percent decline was the biggest drag on main indexes after its fast-growing data center business missed estimates. The S&P 500 was down 0.03 percent, at 2,836.66 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.08 percent, at 7,845.72.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields retreated from six-week highs on Friday after data showed the U.S. economy grew at its fastest pace in nearly four years, but came in below high expectations for the number. Benchmark 10-year notes gained 6/32 in price to yield 2.954 percent, down from a high of 2.988 percent reached in overnight trading, which was the highest since June 13. The yield curve between 2-year and 10-year notes flattened to 28 basis points from 30 basis points before the data.