Global stocks were mixed and European shares edged higher on Friday after a global bond sell-off deepened ahead of a United States monthly jobs report due later in the day.
Oil prices declined even as the US sent another aircraft carrier and more troops to the Middle East, and as President Donald Trump threatened more possible escalations against Iran.
In early European trading, Britain’s FTSE 100 climbed 0.5 per cent, France’s CAC 40 rose 0.6 per cent, while Germany’s DAX was up 0.8 per cent.
That came a day after Europe’s benchmark stock indexes fell sharply as government bond yields shot up.
In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.9 per cent, South Korea’s Kospi added 0.5 per cent, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 2.6 per cent.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.8 per cent and Taiwan’s Taiex advanced 0.3 per cent.
Markets in mainland China were closed for a holiday.
U.S. futures edged up after U.S. Treasury yields held steadier early Friday.
