US consumer sentiment rose from 67.5 to 69.8 in April, ahead of forecasts centred on 69.6. The preliminary reading for April was 69.6. US personal income rose by 0.5pct in March while spending rose by 0.6pct. Both readings were slightly higher than forecast. But the Chicago purchasing managers index eased from 70.6 to 67.6 in April.

China´s official purchasing managers index fell from 53.4 to 52.9 in April.

European shares rose for the seventh straight day on Friday despite reduced volumes due to a holiday in the UK. The FTSEurofirst index rose by 0.2pct while the German Dax lifted by 0.5pct.

US sharemarkets rose again on Friday despite mixed news on the economy and corporate earnings. The Dow Jones index rose to 3-year highs, lifting by 47pts or 0.3pct. The S&P 500 rose by 0.2pct and the Nasdaq rose by 1.0pts or 0.04pct to 10-1/2 year highs. Over the week the Dow Jones rose by 2.4pct with the S&P 500 up 2.0pct and the Nasdaq gained 1.9pct. Over April the Dow rose by 4pct.

US treasuries rose on Friday (yields lower) in light and choppy trade dominated by end-week and end-month position squaring. US 2yr yields fell by 1.6pts to 0.609pct and US 10yr yields fell by 2.4pts to 3.29pct. Over the week US 2yr yields fell by 4pts and US 10yr yields fell by 9pts.

The US dollar was mixed against major currencies in European and US trade on Friday. The Euro eased from highs near US$1.4875 to US$1.4800, before ending US trade near US$1.4815. The Aussie dollar rose from lows near US108.90c to US109.75c before ending US trade near US109.65c. And the Japanese yen rose from 81.50 yen per US dollar to JPY81.00, before closing US trade at JPY81.15.

US crude oil prices rose again on Friday, underpinned by a weak US dollar and on-going tensions in North Africa and the Middle East. The Nymex crude oil contract rose by US$1.07 or 0.9pct to US$113.93 a barrel and London Brent crude rose by US87c to US$125.89 a barrel. US crude rose by 6.8pct in April, the eighth consecutive monthly gain.

Base metal prices were slightly firmer on the London Metal Exchange on Friday, the exception being lead and copper, down up to 0.5pct. Over the week metal prices were weaker, the exception being aluminium, up 0.9pct. Lead lost 4.9pct. And gold rose to fresh record highs in response to a weaker greenback and a shift of investor interest away from silver. The Comex gold futures price rose by US$25.20 an ounce to US$1,556.40.

Ahead: In Australia, the Performance of Manufacturing index is released together with the ABS house price index. Orica releases first half results. In the US, data on construction spending, auto sales and the ISM manufacturing index are released. An election is held in Canada.

More from IBT Markets:
Newsletter: To receive Global Markets update, sign up here