In European Equity Markets stocks posted their best weekly gains of 2017 of Friday, although they were down on the day following disappointing company updates. The pan-European STOXX 600 ended the day 0.1 percent lower and the France’s blue-chip CAC 40 index closed up 0.7 percent.  Shares in French banks BNP Paribas, Societe Generale and Credit Agricole were top performers, last up 2.8 to 4.6 percent. Deutsche Bank fell after Germany’s biggest lender said it was studying its strategic options including a capital increase and the partial sale of its asset management business. Gemalto shares rose 8.1 percent after the digital security company said its profits from operations rose 7 percent in 2016.

In Currency Markets the dollar weakened against a basket of major currencies on Friday ahead of a speech by Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen that could affirm expectations for an interest rate hike on March 15. The dollar was down 0.32 percent at 101.87 against a basket of six major currencies.gainst the Japanese yen the greenback was little changed. The euro rose 0.48 percent against the dollar after a poll showed French far-right candidate Marine Le Pen’s chances in the country’s presidential election dimming. The Australian dollar was almost unchanged, with Aussie at $0.7569, while Kiwi declined 0.75 percent to $0.7012. Sterling was little changed at 1.2269, easing off a fresh six-week low of 1.2214 hit ealier in the session.

In Commodities Markets oil prices rose on Friday, as a weaker dollar encouraged buying but investors remained cautious after Russian production figures showed weak compliance with a global deal to cut output. Global benchmark Brent rose 52 cents to $55.60 a barrel, recovering some of Thursday’s losses. WTI futures rose 59 cents to $53.20 a barrel, a 1 percent gain. Spot gold was down 0.5 percent at $1,228.05 an ounce, while U.S. gold futures for April delivery were down $4.50 at $1,228.40. Among other precious metals, silver was down 0.1 percent at $17.73. Palladium was 1.3 percent lower at $757.55. Platinum recovering from the previous session’s slide to a $978.75 one-month low to trade at $987.90 an ounce, up 0.3 percent.

In US Equity Markets  the S&P 500 and the Dow were set for their first back-to-back losses since late-January on Friday, as investors preferred to wait and watch Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen’s speech for a steer on the chances of an interest rate hike this month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.21 percent, at 20,958.08, the S&P 500 was down 0.23 percent, at 2,376.29 and the Nasdaq Composite was down 0.24 percent, at 5,846.93.  Costco was the top drag on the S&P and the Nasdaq, falling 4 percent after its quarterly sales and profit missed analysts’ expectations. Snap Inc jumped 19 percent – a day after its much-awaited debut – after media company NBCUniversal said it had invested $500 million in the Snapchat parent.

In Bond Markets  benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury yields hit their highest level in more than two weeks on Friday as investors sold bonds after strong U.S. economic data and ahead of a slate of speakers from the Federal Reserve. Benchmark 10-year yields rose to 2.507 percent, the highest since Feb. 15. Yields on 7-year notes rose to 2.347 percent, also the highest since Feb. 15. Yields on other maturities traded in a tight range, with the 2-year note opening lower and trading sideways after touching its highest level since August 2009 on Thursday.