World shares edge up ahead of US jobs data and US Fed rate call
Europe nudges higher but stocks are set for their first weekly drop in six; China and Japan exchanges are still on holiday
London — World stocks were battling to avoid their first weekly fall in six weeks on Friday, as investors waited to see whether key US jobs data would give the US Federal Reserve another reason to dismiss rate cut calls. Traders were pinning hopes on Wall Street regaining its record highs later in the session if MSCI’s 47-country world index is to avoid ending its weekly winning streak. Europe was doing its bit too, with earnings from HSBC and Société Générale and a 7% leap to a record high for German sportswear maker Adidas’s shares helping the region’s main bourses move 0.2% to 0.8% higher. The dollar was also trying to end the week on a firmer note having seen markets scale back bets on a US rate cut. As well as the jobs figures, there are no less than eight US Fed policy makers due to speak on Friday. Bond and commodity markets remained largely on the back foot, with most benchmark government debt yields up on the day and Brent oil slipping back towards $70 a barrel and its wors...
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