Asian Currencies Mixed as Dollar Holds Near Two-Month High 
China Agrees to Buy 20 Million Tons of U.S. Coal 
UK PM Burnham to Unveil Economic Vision at Labour Conference 
European Stocks Fall as Bond Yields and Geopolitical Risks Weigh 
Canadian Dollar Faces Pressure as Fed-BoC Policy Gap Widens 
Wall Street Ends Flat as Oil, Treasury Yields and Fed Jitters Rattle Markets 
Dollar Holds Near Two-Month High as Yen Approaches 160 
U.S. Treasury Yields Surge as 30-Year Hits 22-Year High 
Gold Prices Fall as Treasury Yields Rise on Fed Rate Hike Bets 
Soybean Futures Slip as Traders Await Trump-Xi Trade Signals 
Trump, Xi Focus on Trade and AI at White House Summit 
Oil Prices Fall on U.S.-Iran Hormuz Deal Hopes 
Fed Unveils Stablecoin Rules Under GENIUS Act 
Oil Prices Jump 3% as Houthi Attack Revives Supply Fears 
Germany’s 2026 Growth Outlook Strengthens on Fiscal Spending 
Japanese Yen Rebounds as Trump Flags Currency Weakness 
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Wall Street closed higher on Friday, lifted by technology shares, as optimism over a potential easing of U.S.-China trade tensions buoyed markets. Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) surged 1.7% after surpassing earnings expectations and reaffirming its AI investment plans, helping push the S&P 500 technology, consumer discretionary, and communication services sectors up more than 1% each.
Investors are closely watching corporate earnings calls, cautious of any reduced forecasts amid ongoing uncertainty over President Donald Trump's tariff strategies. Trump claimed in a Time magazine interview that trade talks with China were progressing, though Beijing denied any negotiations, adding to the mixed signals over the global trade outlook. Tariffs imposed since April 2 had raised fears of slowed economic growth.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 20.10 points (0.05%) to 40,113.50, the S&P 500 rose 40.44 points (0.74%) to 5,525.21, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 216.90 points (1.26%) to 17,382.94. Globally, MSCI’s stock index advanced 0.60%, while Europe’s STOXX 600 added 0.35%. Japan’s Nikkei jumped 1.8%, fully recovering from tariff-related losses.
The dollar logged its first weekly gain since March, rising 0.07% against a currency basket. It strengthened 0.67% against the yen to 143.555, while the euro edged down 0.11% to $1.1377. Gold prices dropped 1.7% to $3,292.99 an ounce, despite the dollar’s recovery.
U.S. Treasury yields slipped, with the benchmark 10-year note yield falling to 4.268%, reflecting hopes for a Federal Reserve rate cut. Oil prices edged higher but posted weekly losses, with Brent closing at $66.87 and WTI at $63.02 per barrel.
