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·         European markets opened mixed on Thursday morning, as soaring oil prices triggered a broader rally across commodities.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 was flat shortly after the opening bell, with sectors and major bourses pointing in opposite directions.

·         The bullish sentiment in markets comes amid wider optimism about economic growth. The global economy is expected to expand this year at its fastest pace since 2010, the latest Reuters polls of over 500 economists worldwide suggest, but trade protectionism could quickly slow it down.

Investors were also relieved that no new U.S. demands on trade came out of a summit between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump.

·         Resource stocks were on a roll in Asia on Thursday as oil prices hit heights not seen since late 2014 and ignited a rally across commodities, though the potential boost to inflation globally also put some pressure on fixed-income assets.

Brent crude futures climbed another 37 cents to stand at $73.85 a barrel, adding to a 2.7 percent jump overnight. U.S. crude gained 26 cents to $68.73.

The surge came on a Reuters report that OPEC’s new price hawk Saudi Arabia would be happy for crude to rise to $80 or even $100, a sign Riyadh will seek no changes to a supply-cutting deal even though the agreement’s original target is within sight.

The leap in oil combined with fears that sanctions on Russia could hit supplies of other commodities to light a fire under the entire sector. Aluminum prices reached their highest since 2011, alumina touched an all-time peak and nickel jumped the most in 6-1/2 years.

Resource stocks were the big winners, driving Chinese blue chips up 1.1 percent. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan added 0.9 percent, with energy up over 2.6 percent.

·         Japanese shares rose to a seven-week high on Thursday, with investors relieved that the United States did not make new trade demands at this week’s summit between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Nikkei ended Thursday up 0.15 percent at 22,191.18 after going as high as 22,360.65, its highest since Feb. 28.

·         China stocks rose on Thursday, helped by robust gains in resources firms, as rising oil prices aided a rally across commodities.

The blue-chip CSI300 index ended 1.2 percent higher at 3,811.84, while the Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.9 percent to 3,117.38.