· European stocks opened mixed Friday morning, as market participants prepared for another flurry of corporate earnings.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 was flat shortly after the opening bell, with sectors and major bourses pointing in opposite directions.
Market focus is largely attuned to corporate results, with investors set to closely monitor more earnings reports.
Deutsche Bank reported stronger-than-expected first-quarter net profit on Friday, less than 24 hours after abandoning merger talks with Commerzbank.
· Asian shares drifted off in sleepy trade on Friday, while the dollar held around two-year highs on speculation that figures later in the day will show the U.S. economy outperforming the rest of the developed world.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slipped 0.2 percent, while E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 lost 0.1 percent.
The euro was off 1 percent for the week at $1.1133 as euro zone economic figures continued to disappoint.
Against a basket of currencies, the dollar was 0.8 percent firmer for the week so far at 98.145 having touched its hig
· Japan’s Nikkei fell on Friday following disappointing earnings from high-tech firms and as market players wound down for a 10-day holiday to celebrate the enthronement of Crown Prince Naruhito.
The Nikkei share average lost 0.22 percent to 22,258.73 points. For the week, the index rose 0.26 percent, its fourth straight week of gains.
· China stocks fell on Friday, posting their steepest weekly decline since October 2018, as investors feared that China may scale back its stimulus measures amid signs of economic stabilisation, while Sino-U.S. trade conflict also weighed on sentiments.
The blue-chip CSI300 index fell 1.3 percent, to 3,889.27, while the Shanghai Composite Index closed 1.2 percent lower at 3,086.40.
For the week, both indexes lost 5.6 percent, their biggest weekly decline since Oct. 12, 2018.
Reference: Reuters, CNBC
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