London — World shares rose on Friday as investor appetite for risky assets got a boost from soft US inflation numbers, helping soothe worries that the US Federal Reserve might step up the pace of its rate hikes. The MSCI All Country World index, which tracks shares in 47 countries, was up 0.3% and was set for its best week since March 9. The dollar was flat against a basket of currencies. Oil prices eased from multi-year highs hit this week on hopes that alternative supplies could replace a looming drop in Iranian exports due to sanctions that Washington plans to re-introduce after abandoning a global deal limiting Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Thursday’s soft US inflation numbers followed employment data last week that pointed to sluggish wage growth. While the rally in stocks seemed to point to investor relief, analysts were split over whether the slowdown in inflation could lower the chances of the Fed increasing the number of rate hikes it has suggested will take place this year. Fe...
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