In Asian Equity Markets Japan’s Nikkei fell on Friday to its lowest level in a month as a new coronavirus variant found in South Africa raised an alarm, while the news that Beijing has asked Chinese hailing giant Didi to delist from New York also soured the mood. The Nikkei average fell 2.53 percent to 28,751.62, while the broader Topix fell 2.01 percent to a six-week closing low of 1,984.98. The CSI300 index fell 0.6 percent to 4,865.00 by the end of the morning session, while the Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.5 percent to 3,566.18. The Hang Seng index lost 2.1 percent to 24,213.55.

In Currency Markets the safe-haven yen rallied while the South African rand and risk-sensitive Australian dollar fell on Friday, as investors ducked for cover following the discovery of a new coronavirus variant that could resist current vaccines. The yen leapt as much as 0.64 percent to 114.595 per dollar. The euro rose 0.15 percent to $1.1222, recovering after hitting its lowest in nearly 17 months earlier in the week at $1.1186. The rand lost 1.62 percent to a more than one-year trough at 16.24 per dollar, while the Aussie and New Zealand dollars fell to three-month lows at $0.7135 and $0.6818, respectively.

In US, Equity Markets were closed in observance of Thanksgiving Day.

In Commodities Markets oil prices fell in thin trading on Thursday, the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, as investors eyed how major producers respond to the U.S.-led emergency oil release designed to cool the market and with OPEC now expecting the release to swell inventories. Brent crude futures lost 0.1 percent, to $82.17 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell 0.5 percent, to $78.03 a barrel. Spot gold rose 0.12 percent to $1,790.70 per ounce. Spot silver rose 0.4 percent to $23.62 per ounce, platinum gained 1.6 percent to $989.78, and palladium advanced 1.5 percent to $1,879.18.

In European Equity Markets stocks rose on Thursday as investors bought into defensive sectors such as utilities amid worries about soaring coronavirus cases across the continent. The Europe-wide STOXX 600 index rose 0.4 percent, bouncing off three-week lows hit on Wednesday. Utilities and healthcare stocks, sectors considered as safer bets during times of economic uncertainty, were among top gainers. Remy Cointreau jumped 13.4 percent to a record high after it raised its full-year profit outlook as strong demand for its premium cognac drove a stronger-than-expected operating profit in the first half.

In Bond Markets euro zone bond yields fell for the first time in three sessions on Thursday as investors kept their focus on messaging from the European Central Bank. Trading thinned on Thursday as U.S. traders were out for the Thanksgiving holiday and bond yields fell. Germany’s 10-year yield, the benchmark for the bloc, was down 2.5 basis points at -0.24 percent after rising 12 basis points over the previous three sessions. Italy’s 10-year yield was down 1 basis points at 1.07 percent.