In Asian Equity Markets stocks put global equities on course for a seventh day of gains on Friday as investors bet the U.S. will lead the world out of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the focus turning to a multi-trillion dollar spending boost by the Biden administration. Tokyo led the advance, with the Nikkei rising 1.9 percent early in the session. The broader Topix advanced 1.79 percent to 1,945,21. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific stocks outside Japan added 0.3 percent, hitting its highest level this month, though Chinese blue chips fell 0.1 percent just after the open.

In Currency Markets the British pound held firm near a three-month high against the dollar on Friday on rising expectations of an earlier than expected rate hike by the Bank of England, while the U.S. currency looks to upcoming inflation data. The British pound held firm at $1.4203. Against the euro, the pound changed hands at 85.83 pence per euro. The euro stood at $1.2188 on Friday, hovering below its 5 1/2-month high touched on Tuesday of $1.2266. The yen was nursing Thursday losses fell to a fresh seven week low of 109.96 per dollar.

In US Equity Markets stocks advanced slightly on Thursday, as data showing improvement in the labor market helped bolster expectations in the economic recovery and spurred a minor rotation towards stocks seen as more likely to benefit from the rebound. The Dow rose 0.41 percent, to 34,464.64, the S&P 500 gained 0.12 percent, to 4,200.88 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.01 percent, to 13,736.28. Boeing climbed 3.87 percent after its European rival Airbus outlined an almost two-fold increase in production, citing a strong recovery in aviation from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Commodities Markets oil prices rose on Thursday, bolstered by strong U.S. economic data that offset investors’ concerns about the potential for a rise in Iranian supplies. Brent rose 0.9 percent, to settle at $69.46 a barrel. U.S. WTI crude rose 1 percent, to settle at $66.85 a barrel. Safe-haven gold was little changed on Thursday, weighed down by the upbeat U.S. data that showed a recovery was on track, while rising Treasury yields further added pressure. Spot gold rose 0.01 percent to $1,896.6906 per ounce, while silver fell 0.5 percent to $27.78 per ounce.

In European Equity Markets stocks closed at a record high on Thursday boosted by Airbus after the plane maker hiked its jet output targets, while German stocks weakened after shares in pharmaceuticals maker Bayer were hit by a court ruling. The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.3 percent to 446.44 points, a record closing high. German stocks shed around 0.3 percent, lagging other regional markets, with Bayer the biggest drag on the DAX, falling 5.0 percent. The European banks sector gained nearly 2 percent and basic resources rose 3.0 percent, leading sectoral gains on Thursday.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields advanced on Thursday, bolstered by a New York Times report saying President Joe Biden will announce on Friday a $6 trillion budget for 2022, the largest spending since the second world war, fueling supply concerns. In late afternoon trading, the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield rose to 1.607 percent from 1.574 percent late on Wednesday. U.S. 30-year yields were also up 2.288 percent from Wednesday’s 2.26 percent. Post-auction, U.S. 7-year yields were up at 1.259 percent, compared with 1.23 percent on Wednesday.