In Asian Equity Markets stocks rebounded on Friday, as investors weighed the longer-term impact of tough Western sanctions against Russia after it unleashed troops, tanks and missiles on Ukraine. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.57 percent by midday, Shanghai’s composite index was up 0.57 percent and Japan’s Nikkei was up 1.27 percent. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI index added 1.01 percent, recovering from a decline on Thursday. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index and Australian shares fell slightly, 0.44 percent and 0.03 percent respectively, after a strong start.

In Currency Markets the dollar retreated against most currencies, including the euro, on Friday, as markets walked back some of the tumultuous moves from the previous day when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent investors scrambling. The euro was last at $1.1218, up 0.24 percent, having touched as low as $1.1106 on Thursday, its lowest since May 2020. Also, part of Friday’s recovery was sterling, which firmed 0.4 percent to $1.343, the Australian dollar, which was 0.46 percent higher at $0.7195, and the yen, which rose to 115.23 per dollar.

In US Equity Markets stocks ended sharply higher on Thursday, led by a 3 percent gain in the Nasdaq, in a dramatic market reversal as U.S. President Joe Biden unveiled harsh new sanctions against Russia after Moscow began an all-out invasion of Ukraine. The Dow rose 0.28 percent, to 33,223.83, the S&P 500 gained 1.50 percent, to 4,288.7 and the Nasdaq Composite added 3.34 percent, to 13,473.59. The information technology sector rose 3.5 percent and gave the S&P 500 its biggest boost, in a reversal from recent action.

In Commodities Markets oil prices jumped on Thursday, with Brent rising above $105 a barrel for the first time since 2014 before easing, after Russia’s attack on Ukraine exacerbated concerns about disruptions to global energy supply. Global benchmark Brent crude rose 2.3 percent, to settle at $99.08 a barrel. U.S. WTI crude rose 0.8 percent, to settle at $92.81 a barrel, after earlier rising to $100.54. Spot gold fell 0.6 percent to $1,895.76 per ounce. Platinum lost 3.4 percent to $1,054.80, after rallying to as high as $1,126.18. Silver fell 1.7 percent to $24.10. Palladium fell 4.3 percent to $2,375.02.

In European Equity Markets stocks dived to nine-month lows on Thursday, with banks and automakers bearing the brunt of the selloff, after Russia launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine. The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell 3.3 percent to its lowest since May 2021, marking a correction, or 10 percent decline, from its record high in January. Major regional indexes including France’s CAC 40, Germany’s DAX and Britain’s FTSE 100 each fell close to 4 percent as investors feared the potential impact of severe Western sanctions on Russia.

In Bond Markets investors piled into U.S. government debt on Thursday, pushing Treasury yields sharply lower after Russia invaded Ukraine, but early declines later narrowed as investors assessed the assault’s impact on the economy and capital markets. The yield on 10-year Treasury notes fell 1 basis points to 1.967 percent. Across the U.S. Treasury curve, yields were sharply lower but later pared declines. The two-year note fell 3.2 basis points to 1.568 percent. The Treasury’s sale of $50 billion in seven-year notes was strong, with the yield at 1.905 percent. The yield later rose to 1.946 percent.