NowGazer

Global stock markets surged on Friday, buoyed by signs of easing trade tensions between the U.S. and China. After the Chinese Commerce Ministry indicated openness to negotiations and noted the U.S.’s willingness to engage on tariff issues, investor sentiment improved despite weak earnings from tech giants Apple and Amazon. Apple’s warning that tariffs could increase quarterly costs by $900 million initially weighed on markets, but futures rebounded, with S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures climbing 0.8% and 0.6%, respectively. European and Asian markets also saw significant gains, with the Eurostoxx 50 up 1.3% and Asia-Pacific indices recovering prior losses. Japan and Taiwan led regional gains, though Chinese markets were closed for a holiday. Continued concerns remain over the economic impact of tariffs, with both U.S. and Chinese growth slowing. While fears of recession persist, strong earnings from Microsoft and Meta provided optimism for the tech sector. In currency markets, the yen weakened while the U.S. dollar remained steady. Additionally, gold prices rose despite a weak weekly performance, and oil prices increased following Trump’s threat of secondary sanctions on Iran and hopes for improved trade relations. ​Reuters