Global Markets: Shares rebound but remain on track for weekly loss

Reuters  |  NEW YORK 

By Laila Kearney

Wall Street surged after the U.S. stock market's worst two days of losses since February, with the moving towards its best day in seven months after being hammered earlier in the week.

The climbed 294.13 points, or 1.17 percent, to 25,346.96, the gained 41.12 points, or 1.51 percent, to 2,769.49 and the added 161.90 points, or 2.21 percent, to 7,490.96.

The index, which tracks shares in 47 countries, was up 1.4 percent on the day.

European stocks also opened higher following a rise in Asian shares overnight, but began to edge lower by mid-morning. The pan-European index lost 0.06 percent.

"Some traders are cautiously buying back into the market today, but the underlying issues which brought about the sell-off are still relevant," said.

Results for the United States' largest banks, which began to roll in on Friday, were expected to set the tone for earnings season and help gauge the impact on U.S. company profits from Donald Trump's trade war with

"The market is going to focus on not just current quarter earnings, but guidance going forward, particularly as it relates to the profit margins. You've got some indications of rising wage pressure and higher interest rates," said Willie Delwiche, at in

The biggest market shakeout since February has been blamed on factors including fears about the impact of the U.S.-tariff fight, a spike in U.S. bond yields this week and caution ahead of earnings season.

Trade figures from on Friday showed China's trade surplus with the hit a record high in September, providing a likely source of contention with Trump over trade policies and the currency.

The data showed solid expansion in China's overall imports and exports, suggesting little damage to the country from the tit-for-tat tariffs with the U.S.

MSCI's broadest index of shares outside rose 2.31 percent, the biggest one-day gain for more than two years. The bounce came after the index fell 3.6 percent on Thursday to hit a 1-1/2-year low.

Japan's Nikkei average rose half a percent.

The dollar index rose 0.25 percent, with the euro down 0.29 percent to $1.1559.

yields rose on Friday, recovering from falls in the previous session, after data showed U.S. import prices grew at a faster pace than expected last month, adding to the narrative that inflation is accelerating.

Gold, which had risen to a 10-week high on the back of the selloff, fell 0.4 percent to $1.219.38 an ounce.

Oil rebounded towards $81 a barrel as the equities rally lent support, though prices pared gains after a closely watched forecaster deemed supply adequate and the outlook for demand weakening. [O/R]

U.S. crude rose 0.55 percent to $71.36 per barrel and Brent was last at $80.36, up 0.12 percent on the day.

(Additional reporting by and in London, Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss in New York, Shreyashi Sanyal in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernadette Baum)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Fri, October 12 2018. 21:22 IST