Here are the top five things you need to know in financial markets on Friday, June 17:
1. Brexit risk seen ebbing as campaigns suspended
Both sides of the U.K.’s June 23 referendum on its membership in the European Union (EU), generally referred to as Remain and Leave, agreed to suspend campaigning for a second day on Friday out of respect for the memory of Jo Cox, lawmaker of the British Labour Party.
Cox, who formed part of the Remain campaign, was murdered on Thursday with reports pointing to a man who yelled “Britain first” and then both stabbed and shot her. Police had arrested a suspect and were continuing to investigate on Friday.
Though several polls throughout the week showed the preference to leave the EU, known as a Brexit, taking the lead, some experts suggested that Cox’s death may spur sympathy for the Remain campaign and turn the tide.
In this sense, the pound staged a minor recovery against the dollar on Friday, rising 0.47% to $1.4270 at 9:49AM GMT, or 5:49AM ET.
The campaign suspension in the U.K. did not stop International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde from urging the British people to stay in the EU on Friday, stating that its membership had “made the U.K. a richer economy”.
2. Euro zone approves $8.4 billion bailout tranche for Greece
In the never-ending story of financing for Greece, euro zone finance ministers finally approved €7.5 billion ($8.4 billion) in assistance for Athens as part of the next bailout tranche.
Officials gave the green light after Greece made what they considered to be sufficient progress on reforms with the money expected to arrive in time for Athens to meet two debt repayments due to the European Central Bank (ECB) next week.
3. Global stocks broadly higher at end of risk-off week
Global stocks generally appeared to stage a slight recovery on Friday after a week of losses stirred by the concern over the global economy, particularly the possible impact of the Brexit, with investors generally withdrawing money from equities in favor of safe-haven assets.
The flight from risk assets pushed UK, Japan and Germany 10-year bond yields to record lows this week, with the bund entering negative territory for the first time ever.
In that light, Asian shares ended the session higher, while European stock markets also rose in morning trade, with an added push from the good news over Greece.
Stateside however, after putting an end to a five-day stretch of losses in the prior session, U.S. futures were trading flat on Friday. Specifically, at 9:50AM GMT, or 5:50AM ET, the blue-chip Dow futures slipped 4 points, or 0.02%, S&P 500 futures inched down 2 points, or 0.07%, while the Nasdaq 100 futures edged up 1 point, or 0.02%.
4. Oil pares largest weekly loss since April
As investor risk appetite recovered slightly on Friday and the dollar traded lower, oil managed to pare what was on track to be its largest weekly loss in more than two months, rising for the first time in seven days.
Investors looked ahead to oilfield services provider Baker Hughes’ data on the number of rigs drilling for oil in the U.S.
The number increased by three last week to 328, the second straight weekly rise, fueling speculation that domestic production could be on the verge of rebounding in the weeks ahead, underlining worries over a supply glut.
U.S. crude oil futures gained 1.43% to $46.87, at 9:52AM GMT, or 5:52AM ET, while Brent oil traded up 1.89% to $48.08.
5. Gold off 23-month highs amid profit-taking
The safe-haven yellow metal reached a 23-month peak at $1,316.40 on Thursday, as risk aversion rose.
However, gold futures moved lower on Friday as traders opted to take profit and bearish sentiment on riskier assets took a breather.
Futures were likely to find support at $1,273.0, the low of June 13.