- Tunisia votes with Saied set for re-election
- Bagnaia sets 'example' with Japan MotoGP win to cut gap on Martin
- Intense Israeli bombing rocks Beirut ahead of war anniversary
- Mozambique vote: no suspense but some disillusion
- Austrian rapper channels anti-racist rage in Romani hip-hop songs
- Ohtani magic powers Dodgers over Padres in MLB playoff thriller
- Five of the best: Pakistan-England Test thrillers
- Man sets arm on fire as marches across US mark Gaza war anniversary
- Vietnam's young coffee entrepreneurs brew up a revolution
- Trump rallies at site of failed assassination: 'Never quit'
- Too hot by day, Dubai's floodlit beaches are packed at night
- Is music finally reckoning with #MeToo?
- Fans hail Trump's 'guts' as he returns to site of rally shooting
- Lebanon state media says 'very violent' Israeli strikes hit south Beirut
- Guardians maul Tigers, miracle Mets rally in MLB series openers
- Lebanon state media says Israeli strikes hit south Beirut
- Miami on track for MLS record points after win in Toronto
- Madrid beat Villarreal but Carvajal suffers knee injury
- Madrid beat Villarreal to move level with Liga leaders Barcelona
- Monaco take top spot in Ligue 1 with win at Rennes
- French rugby player on rape charge whistled but 'serene' on return
- Madrid beat Villarreal to level Liga leaders Barca
- Thuram treble fires Inter past Torino and up to second
- 'Fight': defiant Trump jets in to site of rally shooting
- Toddler among 3 dead in migrant Channel crossings
- Mexico City's new mayor sworn in with pledges on water, housing
- Israel on alert ahead of Hamas attack anniversary
- Guardians maul Tigers in MLB playoff series opener
- Macron criticises Israel on Gaza, Lebanon operations
- French rugby player whistled but 'serene' on return amid ongoing rape case
- Kovacic stars as Man City sink Fulham to get title bid back on track
- Retegui hat-trick fires five-star Atalanta to hammering of Genoa
- Heavyweights Australia, England off to World Cup winning starts
- Visiting UN refugee agency chief decries 'terrible crisis' in Lebanon
- Spinners come to party as England defeat Bangladesh at T20 World Cup
- Search continues for missing in deadly Bosnia floods
- Man City sink Fulham to get title bid back on track
- France's Auradou whistled on Pau return in Perpignan loss amid ongoing rape case
- A 'forgotten' valley in storm-hit North Carolina, desperate for help
- Arsenal hit back in style after Southampton scare
- Thousands march for Palestinians ahead of Oct 7 anniversary
- Hezbollah heir apparent Safieddine out of contact after strikes
- Liverpool stay top of Premier League as Arsenal, Man City win
- In dank Tour of Emilia, Pogacar shines in rainbow jersey
- DR Congo launches mpox vaccination drive, hoping to curb outbreak
- Trump returns to site of failed assassination
- Careless Leverkusen held to Bundesliga draw
- O'Brien's 'superstar' Kyprios posts landmark win on Arc weekend
- Toddler crushed to death in migrant Channel crossing
- Liverpool suffer Alisson injury blow
European stocks rise awaiting US rate cut next week
European stock markets extended gains, gold hit a record high and the dollar fell on Friday ahead of an expected US interest-rate cut next week.
More data this week suggesting the Federal Reserve was winning the battle against inflation provided an extra kick for global equities after recent drops caused by worries of a possible US recession.
Asia's main stock markets diverged as they closed out the week, while Wall Street advanced Thursday.
While concerns linger over last week's big miss on US jobs creation, traders are turning their attention to the central bank decision next Wednesday.
"Gold prices are once again at record levels as the dollar weakens ahead of an anticipated interest-rate cut from the US Federal Reserve," noted Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
"A weaker dollar is typically supportive to gold because it is denominated in the US currency.
"Lower rates are also a driver for the precious metal as it increases its attractiveness versus assets like cash and bonds."
The price of gold struck an all-time high $2,572.98 per ounce on Friday.
Having slashed rates in the early months of the pandemic, the Fed began hiking them in 2022 as inflation started to take hold, and they kept lifting until rates hit a two-decade high.
Now, with disinflation seemingly kicking in and the labour market softening, decision-makers are tipped to start cutting again, with debate on whether it will be a 25 or 50-basis-point move.
The European Central Bank on Thursday further reduced eurozone borrowing costs as inflation cools, while eyes will be on the Bank of England next week to see if it will carry out back-to-back cuts.
In company news, Danish logistics group DSV on Friday announced a deal to acquire Schenker, a division of German rail firm Deutsche Bahn, for 14.3 billion euros ($15.8 billion) and create a "powerhouse" in the freight-forwarding sector.
- Key figures around 1100 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.4 percent at 8,270.09 points
Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.3 percent at 7,457.00
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.5 percent at 18,617.85
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.7 percent at 36,581.76 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.8 percent at 17,369.09 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.5 percent at 2,704.09 (close)
New York - Dow: UP 0.6 percent at 41,096.77 (close)
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1090 from $1.1078 on Thursday
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3129 from $1.3126
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 140.63 yen from 141.78 yen
Euro/pound: UP at 84.49 pence from 84.36 pence
Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.9 percent at $72.64 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.0 percent at $69.64 per barrel
Y.Nakamura--AMWN