Market News

Japanese shares end modestly up after a roller-coaster ride that subjects the Nikkei Average to a swing of more than 3% on both sides of the previous day's close.

Japanese government bond yields come off early highs to end little changed as two bond-buying operations by the Bank of Japan help to calm the market.

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Business confidence in Germany rose more than expected in May, with the Ifo business-climate index climbing to 105.7 points from 104.4 in April, data showed Friday morning according to media reports. Expectations were for a 104.5 reading. German stocks inched higher after the data, with the DAX 30 index up 0.2% to 8,365.72. The Stoxx Europe 600 index climbed 0.1% to 304.36.

European stock markets climb on Friday, partly recovering from a sharp selloff the prior day, with investors awaiting a reading on German business confidence to gauge if the region's powerhouse is gaining momentum.

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- European stock markets opened higher on Friday, partly recovering from a sharp selloff the prior day, with investors awaiting a reading on German business confidence to gauge if the region's powerhouse is gaining momentum. The Stoxx Europe 600 index put on 0.3% to 304.99, after sinking 2.1% on Thursday. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index rose 0.2% to 6,707.97, while France's CAC 40 index added 0.4% to 3,982.44. Germany's DAX 30 index gained 0.2% to 8,369.80, after snapping a 12-day winning streak on Thursday.

MADRID (MarketWatch) -- Gold prices eased on Friday as Asian equities swung higher, but saw little benefit from a weaker dollar as the yen gained. Gold for August delivery fell $2.50 to $1,390.30 an ounce. A day prior, gold settled at its highest level in a week, supported by a drop for the dollar and weaker global equities, largely a plunge in Japanese equities. The Nikkei Stock Average saw another volatile session on Friday, swinging to a gain of 3% to a loss of 3%, but closing around 0.9% up. The dollar index fell to 83.687, from 83.723. Among other metals, copper saw its July contract rise 2, or 0.5%, to $3.32 a pound. July silver fell 1 cent to $22.49 an ounce. June palladium futures fell 10 cents to $738.55 an ounce, and platinum fell 20 cents to $1,457 an ounce.

The Japanese yen turns higher Friday, resuming the advance against the U.S. dollar that was spurred in part by a selloff in Japanese bonds.

A May 24 story misstated the movement of the yen against the dollar. It has now been corrected.

U.S. crude-oil futures are facing a fourth consecutive losing session, with concerns about lackluster energy demand after weak Chinese data also helping oil prices fall for the week.

LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- In a breakthrough to a long-running dispute, China has agreed to allow its accounting firms to give U.S. regulators access to relevant records, The Wall Street Journal reported early Friday, saying the deal was due to be announced later in the day. The agreement allows the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board to see audit records and other documents held by Chinese auditors, the report said. However, the agreement doesn't cover a Securities and Exchange Commission request for direct access to the documents for use in fraud investigations, the report said.