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• European stocks moved sharply lower on Friday morning as geopolitical tensions over North Korea intensified.

As a result, the volatility index known as VIX was at a nine-month high, though it was close to record lows earlier this week – before the tensions escalated.

• Asian equity markets extended a global slide on Friday as tensions ramped up between the United States and North Korea, sending investors fleeing to less risky assets such the yen and the Swiss franc.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan skidded 1.55 percent, its biggest one-day loss since mid-December. It is heading for a 2.5 percent drop for the week.

• Hong Kong shares fell 2 percent on Friday, dragged down by a sell-off in internet-related shares and fears over the impact of rising tensions between the United States and North Korea.

The Hang Seng index fell 2.0 percent, to 26,883.51, while the China Enterprises Index lost 1.9 percent, to 10,572.97 points.

Reference: Reuters, CNBC