ASIA/PACIFIC
Asian markets ended the week on a positive note, with Chinese stocks reaching a three-month high and leading regional gains. The Shanghai Composite Index surged 1.8%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 2.12%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 0.7%, and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 advanced 0.5%, driven by strong performances in mining stocks.
EUROPE
European markets closed sharply higher, buoyed by optimism over potential fiscal reforms. Germany’s DAX gained 1.86% amid reports that lawmakers were nearing an agreement to reform the country’s debt brake rule. France’s CAC 40 rose 1.13%, and Britain’s FTSE 100 added 1.05%. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index closed 1.14% higher. In banking news, UniCredit secured approval from the European Central Bank (ECB) to acquire a 29.9% stake in Commerzbank.
AMERICAS
U.S. equities rallied as diplomatic efforts between the U.S. and Russia raised hopes for a potential 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, which could pause hostilities after more than three years of conflict. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 1.65%, the S&P 500 climbed 2.13%, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 2.61%.
AFRICA
The Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières (BRVM), West Africa’s regional stock exchange, is set to return to London for its annual BRVM Investment Days Roadshow. The event, a key fixture on the international investment calendar, will take place on April 8, 2025, at the London Stock Exchange.
MIDDLE EAST
Dubai’s main index declined 0.9% after two consecutive days of gains, with Emaar Properties and its construction arm Emaar Development falling 2.2% and 2.8%, respectively. In contrast, Abu Dhabi’s benchmark index edged up 0.1%, supported by a 1.1% rise in First Abu Dhabi Bank and a 1.4% increase in Emirates Telecommunication Group. Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings noted that the passage of Kuwait’s debt law, currently under discussion by the Council of Ministers, would enable the country to issue new debt to finance nearly 30% of its deficit.
COMMODITIES
GOLD
Gold futures closed at a record high of $3,001.10 per ounce on Friday, driven by safe-haven demand amid concerns over potential tariffs under a Trump administration. According to Daniel Ghali, senior commodity strategist at TD Securities, gold’s rally above $3,000 marks the metal’s third most significant bull market in modern history.
OIL
Oil prices edged higher amid mixed signals on global supply and demand. Brent crude futures settled at $70.58 per barrel, up 70 cents or 1%, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude closed at $67.18 per barrel, gaining 63 cents or 1%. The International Energy Agency (IEA) warned that global oil supply could outpace demand by approximately 600,000 barrels per day this year, citing robust U.S. production growth and weaker-than-expected global demand.
