US consumer sentiment rose from 55.7 to 57.8 in September, above forecasts for a result near 56.3.

Moody´s Investors Service left Italy´s Aa2 foreign currency credit rating unchanged but has kept the rating on review for a possible downgrade.

European shares rose again on Friday on hopes that euro zone finance ministers would advance plans to address the region´s debt crisis over the weekend. The FTSEurofirst index rose by 0.5pct while the German Dax lifted by 1.2pct and the UK FTSE gained 0.6pct.

US sharemarkets rose for the fifth straight day on hopes that European leaders were containing the Greek debt crisis. But shares in Research in Motion - makers of the Blackberry - lost 19pct after reporting a drop in quarterly profit. The Dow Jones rose by almost 76pts or 0.7pct with the S&P 500 higher by 0.6pct while the Nasdaq gained 15pts or 0.6pct. Over the week the Dow rose by 4.7pct, the S&P 500 rose by 5.4pct while the Nasdaq rose by 6.3pct - its biggest weekly increase since July 2009.

US treasuries rose on Friday (yields lower) on hopes that the Federal Reserve will deliver more economic stimulus when policymakers meet this week. US 2yr yields fell by 2pts to 0.17pct and US 10yr yields fell by 3pts to 2.05pct. Over the week US 2yr yields were unchanged while US 10yr yields rose by 13pts.

The US dollar was mixed on Friday as traders squared positions ahead of key events in the coming week. The Euro fell from near US$1.3865 to US$1.3755, before ending the US session near US$1.3785. The euro has slumped to US$1.3715 this morning. But the Aussie dollar rose from lows around US103.10c to US103.95c, ending US trade near US103.60c. The Aussie is near US103.05c this morning. And the Japanese yen eased from 76.65 yen per US dollar to JPY76.95 and ended US trade at JPY76.80. The yen is at JPY76.95 this morning.

Global crude oil prices fell on Friday as investors booked profits at the end of the week, ahead of key events like the Federal Reserve meeting and G20 meeting. Nymex crude oil fell by US$1.44 or 1.6pct to US$87.96 a barrel and London Brent crude fell by US8c to US$112.22 a barrel. Brent was supported by ongoing production problems for shipments of Forties crude oil. Nymex was up by 0.8pct over the week but Brent lost 0.5pct.

Base metal prices were generally lower on the London Metal Exchange on Friday, falling from 0.2-2.1pct. But aluminium rose 0.3pct. Over the week metal prices were lower up to 3.6pct but nickel rose 1.7pct and aluminium rose 0.6pct. The gold price rebounded from lows on Friday in response to demand for physical metal. The Comex December gold price was up by US$33.30 an ounce or 1.9pct to US$1,814.70. Gold fell by US$44.80 or 2.4pct over the week.

Ahead: In Australia, imports data for August is released. Premier Investments releases full year results. In the US, the NAHB Housing market index is released.