London — The euro briefly jumped to a five-week high and the bloc’s bond yields and banking stocks climbed on Friday as comments from a European Central Bank (ECB) policy-maker prompted investors to price in a high chance of a rate hike by year end. Asian stocks advanced and were set for their best week since July after most of the world’s biggest economies either tightened monetary policy or signalled tightening, in a strong sign of confidence about global growth and inflation. Markets are also keeping an eye on the Group of 20 finance leaders’ meeting in Germany this weekend, where topics such as reforms to boost economic growth, protectionism and exchange rates are expected to be on the agenda. The US Federal Reserve kicked things off this week with an interest rate hike on Wednesday, China followed with its own hike on Thursday, then Britain and an ECB policy-maker hinted at higher rates. The latter two came as something of a surprise to markets with Britain’s economic future in...
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