In Asian Equity Markets the Nikkei 225 added 0.38 percent and the broader Topix edged higher by 0.32 percent, after the release of core consumer price index data, which slightly missed expectations.  Kospi rose by 0.39 percent as Samsung Electronics edged up by 0.3 percent, paring some of its overnight declines while other tech names slipped. Shipbuilders also traded higher in the morning. Samsung Biologics rose 4.77 percent after the South Korean company said Biogen, a U.S. biotechnology firm, would exercise its call option to increase its stake in Samsung Bioepis. The Shanghai composite shed 0.06 percent and the Shenzhen composite slipped 0.26 percent.

In Currency Markets the US dollar edged higher against the yen on Friday and set a fresh four-month high, buoyed by a rise in U.S. Treasury yields that suggests a more upbeat outlook for the world’s largest economy. The dollar’s index stood at 93.468, trading within sight of a five-month high of 93.632 set earlier this week. The dollar edged up 0.2 percent to 110.975 yen, reaching its highest levels since Jan. 23. The euro inched up 0.1 percent to $1.1805. On Wednesday it had set a five-month low of $1.1763 as it came under pressure on concerns about the demands of populist parties likely to form Italy’s next government.

In Commodities Markets oil prices held firm on Friday on strong demand, ongoing supply cuts led by producer cartel OPEC and looming U.S. sanctions against major crude exporter Iran. But markets remained below multi-year highs from the previous day as growing output from the United States is expected to offset at least some of the shortfalls. Brent crude futures were at $79.57 per barrel, up 27 cents, or 0.3 percent from their last close. Brent broke through $80 for the first time since November 2014 on Thursday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $71.62 a barrel, up 13 cents, or 0.2 percent, from their last settlement.

In US Equity Markets indexes ended slightly lower after a choppy trading session on Thursday, as investors grappled with escalating trade tensions and rising oil prices. the S&P 500 lost 0.09 percent, to 2,720.12 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.21 percent, to 7,382.47. U.S. small-cap stocks fared better than their larger rivals. The Russell 2000 index closed at a record high for a second day in a row, while larger firms with more international exposure were pressured by rising oil prices and a strengthening dollar. Cisco Systems’ stock was the biggest drag on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, falling 3.8 percent despite beating profit and revenue estimates in its post-market earnings report.

In Bond Markets U.S. 10-year Treasury yields rose to a near seven-year peak on Thursday, extending this week’s bond market decline, as traders and investors have not reached a consensus on whether it was time to buy or if the market was vulnerable to more selling. Benchmark 10-year Treasury notes yielded 3.109 percent, up over 1 basis point from late on Wednesday. The yield touched 3.122 percent earlier Thursday, which was the highest since July 2011. The U.S. Treasury Department’s $11 billion reopening of a prior issue of 10-year Treasury Inflation Protection Securities (TIPS) drew mediocre bidding.