MTS Help Center

·        European shares softened at the end of a strong week as a rally in commodity prices fizzled out, sparking profit-taking among mining stocks, although strong earning updates boosted shares in Ericsson (ERICb.ST) and Telia (TELIA.ST).

The pan-European STOXX 600 index was down 0.2 percent by 0725 GMT but remained up 0.5 percent on the week and set for its fourth straight week of gains, as global markets recover from a turbulent first quarter.

·        Asian shares slipped on Friday as a warning on smartphone demand from the world’s largest contract chipmaker slugged the tech sector, while high oil prices stirred inflation fears and undermined sovereign bonds.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS shed 0.8 percent, again led by a 0.7 percent fall in technology.

·        Japan’s Nikkei share average was flat in choppy trade on Friday morning as worries about slower smartphone demand hit technology shares, while financial stocks rallied helped by higher U.S. yields.

The Nikkei was flat at 22,191.83 in midmorning trade, after trading in negative territory. For the week, the Nikkei has gained 1.7 percent and is poised to post its fourth straight week of gains.

·        China stocks slid on Friday morning, dragged down by banking and transport firms, and as worries over China-U.S. trade spat lingered.

The CSI300 index fell 1.0 percent, to 3,773.16 at the end of the morning session, while the Shanghai Composite Index lost 1.2 percent, to 3,080.01.