- Stocks Steady After Volatile Week; Crude Rises
Global equities showed signs of stabilizing at the end of a turbulent week in which investors confronted political crises in Washington and Brazil. Oil headed for a second weekly gain as OPEC members supported Saudi Arabian and Russian pledges to extend supply cuts.
Stocks in Europe advanced, paring their worst week since November. Gold resumed gains after briefly halting a five-day rally, while the dollar fell as emerging-market currencies rebounded from a selloff sparked by calls for Brazil’s leader to resign over an alleged cover-up. The euro was poised for its best week in almost a year.
Market volatility eased after U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration sought to move past controversies surrounding Russia that have threatened to ensnare its plans for tax cuts and infrastructure spending. Risk sentiment was also helped by better-than-expected U.S. jobless claims and regional manufacturing data Thursday.
“Following the initial excitement about the chaotic situation in the White House market participants seem to have calmed down again,” analysts at Commerzbank AG including Thu Lan Nguyen said in a note to clients.
The crisis in Brazil added another layer of worries for investors. President Michel Temer has defied calls for him to step down, saying a Supreme Court probe will debunk allegations he participated in a cover-up. Meanwhile, geopolitics remained in the spotlight, amid reports that the U.S. Navy is moving a second aircraft carrier to the Korean peninsula and that Chinese jets intercepted a U.S. Air Force plane.