Global markets end week on a strong note

LONDON: World stocks rose Friday, ending a shaky week on a positive note as investors looked ahead to crucial trade talks between China and the United States at the end of the month and responded to solid corporate earnings reports.

Small signs of a break in the impasse on Capitol Hill also provided some hope, with Democrats and Republicans meeting to end the month-long government shutdown that is taking its toll on the economy and has left hundreds of thousands of workers unpaid.

European equities barrelled higher, shaking off Brexit worries, after a strong performance in Asian equity markets.

In the late New York morning, the DJIA index was also firmly up, rising by nearly one percent.

- 'Sea of green' -

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"Global equity markets were a sea of green on Friday as investors diverted their attention from geopolitical risks and global growth fears to focus on robust US corporate earnings," said Lukman Otunuga, a research analyst at FXTM.

But he also warned that "this market could be living on borrowed time" with trade tensions, Brexit-related uncertainty, a gloomy growth outlook from the IMF and the US shutdown "straining risk sentiment".

Oanda analyst Craig Erlam also warned of likely upcoming trials for equity investors.

"There's likely to be a lot more catalysts next week -- Brexit, US government shutdown, trade talks, earnings -- so confidence will be tested," he told AFP.

There are hopes that next week's meeting in Washington between top Chinese and US officials will see some progress, but Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross looked to temper expectations Thursday by saying the two sides are "miles and miles" from resolving their trade war.

However, he still offered some hope, saying: "I believe China would like to make a deal. I believe we would like to make a deal but it has to be a deal that works for both parties."

- 'We're talking, we're talking' -

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In Washington, two bills to end the shutdown were thrown out by the senate but the president signalled he could back a "reasonable" proposal that includes border security. However, Democrats reasserted they will not fund a Mexican border wall.

The Senate leaders of both parties met Thursday to discuss the issue, with Democrat Chuck Schumer later seen smiling and saying: "We're talking, we're talking".

Oil prices rose as instability in Venezuela fuelled concerns about supplies from the major producer, with Trump weighing sanctions on Nicolas Maduro's regime and backing opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's interim president.

- Key figures around 1640 GMT -

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London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 6,809.22 points (close)

Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 1.4 percent at 11,281.79 (close)

Paris - CAC 40: UP 1.1 percent at 4,925.82 (close)

EURO STOXX 50: UP 1.2 percent at 3,163.24

New York - DOW: UP 0.8 percent at 24,759.10

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.0 percent at 20,773.56 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 1.7 percent at 27,569.19 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.4 percent at 2,601.72 (close)

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1428 from $1.1304 at 2200 GMT Thursday

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3172 from $1.3066

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 109.61 yen from 109.64

Oil - Brent Crude: UP 14 cents at $61.23 per barrel

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: UP 25 cents at $53.38