Global Markets Continue The Positive Trend As Biden Inches Closer To A Win

Stocks across the globe remained mostly positive as Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden edges closer to a win. Major Asian markets closed higher on Friday while European markets opened on a sluggish note.

The Dow futures are trading lower by 0.12%, and the S&P 500 futures are down by 0.24 on last check Friday. WTI crude futures have given up 0.93% to $38.43, while gold futures are flat at $1,947.70. 10-Year Treasury yield is flat at 0.776%, continuing its fall from a high of 0.94% three days ago.

Asia: Japan's Nikkei 225 closed 0.91% higher on Friday as it hovers near the highest level since 1991. Japan's household spending improved 3.8% month-over-month in September but fell 10.2% year-over-year. The overall wage for September income fell 0.9%, along with average cash earnings dipping 0.9% YoY.

China's Shanghai Composite benchmark closed down by 0.24% after blue-chip companies had their best week in three months. On Friday, China's central bank official said that the decision to suspend Alibaba Group Holding's BABA Ant Financial IPO was in the best interest of financial consumers and investors. China's trade balance data for October is scheduled for late Friday.

See Also: Jack Ma's Ant Group IPO Faces Delay Of Over Six Months: FT

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.82% on Friday's close, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index gained a marginal 0.04%. Hong Kong's foreign reserves jumped to $475 billion in October.

India's Nifty 50 index is trading higher 1.13% at press time, aiming for gains in five consecutive sessions. South Korea's KOSPI closed 0.11% higher.

Europe:  Euro Stoxx 50 retreated 0.4% in Friday's early trade after substantial gains in the last four days. September's retail sales in Europe improved 2.2% YoY but fell 2% MoM, missing the consensus on both counts.

London's FTSE 100 index is down slightly by 0.15% after the U.K.'s house price index rose 0.3% MoM in October and 7.5% YoY.

Germany's DAX fell 0.75%, as of publication time, as industrial production grew only 1.6% MoM in September, worse than expectations of 2.7% growth.

France's CAC 40 has shed a total of 0.60% on last check Friday, after the nation's non-farm payrolls grew by 1.8% QoQ, and the trade balance narrowed to €5.8 billion in September. Spain's Ibex 35 index was down by 0.52%.

Forex Trading: U.S. Dollar Index futures remained flat at 92.525, as the dollar lost 0.16$ against the Euro to $1.1840, gained 0.13% against the Sterling Pound to $1.3125. The dollar was trading flat against the Japanese Yen at JPY 103.47 and gained 0.30% against the Chinese Yuan to CNY 6.6231.

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