New York — A gauge of global equities rose and shares on Wall Street set new highs on Friday as investors shrugged off the latest missile test by North Korea, while the dollar eased on unexpected weak economic data that dimmed expectations for a US rate hike. Brent oil prices, the global benchmark, held near five-month highs and were on track for the biggest weekly gain since late July on forecasts for rising demand and the gradual restart of US oil refineries after Hurricane Harvey. Gold fell after a European Central Bank official called for scaling back the bank’s stimulus program. Losses were capped when weaker-than-expected US retail sales renewed doubts the Federal Reserve will raise rate again in December. Yields on longer-dated US Treasury maturities briefly added to earlier declines after the weak data revived some concerns about slower economic growth in the third quarter and the likelihood of a Fed rate hike. Interest rates are lower than at the beginning of the year which...
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