In Asian Equity Markets Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.44 percent, with insurers and mining stocks leading overall declines. Semiconductor-related stocks were also down, with Tokyo Electron falling 3.34 percent. Elsewhere, the Kospi pulled back by 0.72 percent as major technology names recorded declines in early trade. Samsung Electronics fell 3.52 percent and SK Hynix declined 3.59 percent. The S&P/ASX 200 gave up early gains to trade lower by 0.13 percent. The energy and utilities led losses, losing 1.41 percent and 1.13 percent.

In Currency Markets the US dollar stood tall on Friday, hovering just short of a 13-month high against a basket of peers as European currencies such as the pound and euro continued to lose traction. The Russian rouble fell to its weakest since late 2016 after Washington said it would impose fresh sanctions on Moscow, while the Turkish lira declined a record low in the wake of a diplomatic rift with the United States. Elsewhere, the New Zealand dollar remained on the back foot, stretching its overnight slide to $0.6598, its lowest since March 2016.

In Commodities Markets oil was torn between concerns that the U.S.-China trade dispute would stall economic growth, while Washington’s sanctions against Iran were expected to tighten supplies. Front-month Brent crude oil futures were at $72.12 per barrel, up 5 cents from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were flat at $66.81 a barrel. Despite the possibility of a slowdown in economic growth due to escalating trade tensions, oil markets are for now relatively tight, analysts said, mostly because of sanctions on Iranian oil exports.

In US Equity Markets the S&P 500 and Dow ended down slightly on Thursday as gains in Apple and Amazon were offset by losses in energy shares. The S&P 500 lost 0.14 percent, to 2,853.58 and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.04 percent, to 7,891.78. The biggest drag on the S&P 500 was Booking Holdings, which fell 5 percent after it forecast third-quarter profit below expectations. Rite Aid fell 11.5 percent after the drug store chain and U.S. grocer Albertsons Cos agreed to terminate their merger agreement.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields declined on Wednesday as average demand at a record-setting $18 billion 30-year bond auction supported the view investors are willing to own U.S. government debt even as its borrowing needs will grow further. The latest 30-year issue was the final part of this week’s $78 billion in the government’s quarterly debt refunding which was estimated to raise nearly $40 billion in new cash. Benchmark 10-year Treasury yield was down 3 basis points at 2.933 percent, while the 30-year yield was down 4 basis points at 3.079 percent.