Gulf stocks end lower
Most Gulf stock markets ended mostly lower on Thursday, led by Saudi Arabia, as oil prices slid more than $2 a barrel after the United States and Iran agreed to hold talks in Oman.
Crude prices, a key driver for Gulf financial markets, tumbled 2.2 percent with Brent trading at $67.93 per barrel by 1300 GMT.
The discussions between the two sides come as the U.S. builds up forces in the Middle East, and regional players seek to avoid a military confrontation that many fear could escalate into a wider war.
Saudi Arabia’s benchmark stock index fell 1.3 percent, snapping a three-session winning streak, with all constituents in negative territory. Declines were led by materials, IT and real estate. Saudi Arabian Mining dropped 5.4 percent and Saudi National Bank, the kingdom’s largest lender by assets, slid 2.7 percent. Bank Albilad rose 0.8 percent after posting higher full-year net profit on Wednesday.
The Saudi index also logged a weekly loss of 1.8 percent, as profit-taking set in after three consecutive weekly gains.
Europe’s stoxx 600 drops
European shares dropped on Friday, and were set to log a subdued end to a volatile week dominated by investor caution around software companies and a batch of disappointing corporate earnings, with carmaker Stellantis being the latest.
The pan-European STOXX 600 was down 0.2 percent at 610.28 points as of 0809 GMT.
Stellantis tanked 14.4 percent and triggered a trading halt after the Franco-Italian company booked charges of around 22.2 billion euros ($26.5 billion) in the second half of last year as it scales down electric-vehicle development plans.
The broader auto sector slid 2.4 percent and led sectors lower.
Tech stocks slipped 1 percent and was set for its biggest weekly drop since late March 2025 as concerns prevailed that newer AI tools could upend the sector. US-basedAmazon’s 50 percent boost in spending plans also rattled sentiment.
Offsetting broader losses was a 6.3 percent climb in Societe Generale after the French lender lifted a key profitability target for 2026 as it beat fourth-quarter profit forecasts.
Japan’s Nikkei struggles for direction
Japan’s Nikkei share average swayed between gains and losses on Friday as a selloff in technology shares weighed on the market and investors remained cautious ahead of a crucial national election on Sunday.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 Index inched 0.1 percent higher to 53,881.69 and was on course for a 1 percent weekly gain.
The broader Topix climbed 0.5 percent to 3,671.61.
Investors are waiting for the outcome of Sunday’s general election, in which the ruling coalition led by fiscal dove Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was expected to win by a landslide.
Chip-testing equipment maker Advantest fell 3.1 percent, making it the biggest drag on the Nikkei and extending its fall from Thursday.
SoftBank Group, a bellwether investor in artificial intelligence, edged up 0.15 percent following a plunge in the previous session. Food additive maker Ajinomoto soared 10 percent, while Mitsubishi Motors jumped 8.5 percent.
Hong Kong stocks slip
Hong Kong stocks slipped on Friday, while mainland China markets were mixed, weighed down by a global selloff in technology shares and sharp losses in silver futures that dampened investor sentiment.
At the midday break, the benchmark Shanghai Composite index inched up 0.11 percent, while the blue-chip CSI300 index lost 0.05 percent.
In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index fell 1.13 percent, while the city’s tech shares dropped 0.48 percent.
Losses in tech shares were tracking their global peers, as shares of US software and data services companies extended their tumble for a seventh straight session on Thursday as investors worried that fast-advancing artificial intelligence tools could upend the sector.
Gold prices stabilised in morning deals and helped some non-ferrous metal shares pare losses, while prices of Shanghai-traded silver futures remained down about 13 percent.
Ahead of RBI policy decision, Indian shares set to open little changed
Indian shares are set to open little changed on Friday ahead of the central bank’s policy decision, with markets awaiting guidance on growth and liquidity amid expectations of a rate pause.
The Gift Nifty futures were trading at 25,602.5 points as of 7:06 a.m. IST, indicating the benchmark Nifty 50 will open near Thursday’s close of 25,642.8.
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The Reserve Bank of India is expected to hold rates, helped by benign inflation and easing worries over US tariffs after budget measures to boost manufacturing and exports and a trade deal with Washington.
Most economists polled by Reuters before the India-U.S. trade agreement was announced on Monday had also expected a status quo on interest rates.
“Given there is no pressing concern around growth or inflation, RBI is expected to hold rates unchanged in its upcoming policy,” Bank of Baroda economist Sonal Badhan said.
The central bank is also likely to maintain a “neutral” stance, keeping the door open to one more rate cut if needed, Badhan added.
Sri Lankan shares rise
Sri Lankan shares closed higher on Thursday, led by consumer discretionary and financials stocks.
The CSE All Share index settled up 0.15 percent at 23,768.99
Kerner Haus Global Solutions PLC and Paragon Ceylon PLC were the top percentage gainers on the CSE All Share index, rising 25 percent and 24.8 percent, respectively.
Trading volume on the CSE All Share index rose to 441.2 million shares from 276.9 million in the previous session.
The equity market’s turnover rose to 11.11 billion Sri Lankan rupees ($35.9 mln) from 8.24 billion rupees in the previous session, according to exchange data.
Foreign investors were net sellers, offloading stocks worth 5.25 billion rupees, while domestic investors were net buyers, purchasing shares worth 6.89 billion rupees, the data showed.