- Saudi crown prince says no Israel ties without Palestinian state
- Canada to further cut international student, foreign worker permits
- YouTube launches new TV-focused tools for creators
- White Sox heading for worst season in MLB history
- China the top challenge in US history: senior diplomat
- Hong Kong democracy tycoon's son warns time running out
- New migraine drugs no better than cheap painkillers: big study
- Sean 'Diddy' Combs again denied bail in sex trafficking case
- Brewers clinch division title as MLB playoff race heats up
- Man City blunted by 'giant' Inter in Champions League stalemate
- US stocks dip despite larger Fed interest rate cut
- Man City held by Inter as PSG pinch win in Champions League
- All Blacks recall Beauden Barrett for Australia Test
- Fears of all-out war as new Lebanon device blasts kill 20, wound 450
- Spurs late show saves Postecoglou blushes at Coventry
- PSG snatch late goal to beat Champions League debutants Girona
- Gittens' late double gives Dortmund Champions League win at Brugge
- Man City blunted by Inter in Champions League stalemate
- Hidden talent: French Olympic star Marchand opts for disguise
- MrBeast named in California lawsuit over 'Beast Games' show
- Gauff splits with Gilbert as coach after 14-month run
- Hundreds of thousands at risk in Sudan's El-Fasher: UN
- Harvey Weinstein pleads not guilty to new sex crime charge
- Venezuelan opposition candidate says letter conceding election was coerced
- Ukraine official claims Russian advance in Kursk has been 'stopped'
- X update allows app to bypass Brazil ban: internet providers
- Fears of all-out war as new Lebanon device blasts kill 14, wound 450
- US Fed makes aggressive rate cut, weeks before election
- Arsenal's Odegaard faces lengthy injury absence
- India coal expansion risks massive methane growth: report
- China the top challenge in US history, top diplomat says
- US Fed makes larger half-point cut in first reduction since 2020
- Ronaldo's Al Nassr appoint former AC Milan boss Pioli
- Ainslie 'relieved' as British book place in Louis Vuitton Cup final
- Struggling Roma replace sacked icon De Rossi with Ivan Juric
- Women's NBA will add 15th team in Portland in 2026
- Brazil fires need harsher punishment: environmental police boss
- Boeing to start large temporary furloughs amid Seattle strike
- Fears of all-out war as new Lebanon device blasts kill nine, wound 300
- 'Emergency' declared over falling UK butterfly numbers
- McIlroy outlines threats to golf peace deal
- Stock markets, dollar slip before US rate decision
- Russian advance in Kursk 'stopped': Ukraine official to AFP
- UN members demand end to 'unlawful' Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories
- Snapchat pushes 'safer' platform image, but not everyone agrees
- Three dead, 100 wounded in new wave of Lebanon device explosions
- So where does the oceans' plastic waste come from?
- Allied war heroes buried in Netherlands... 80 years on
- Marsh coy over Australia's choice to open alongside Head
- New London sculpture pays tribute to trans community
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European stocks rise awaiting US rate cut next week
European stock markets extended gains, gold hit a record high and the dollar fell on Friday ahead of an expected US interest-rate cut next week.
More data this week suggesting the Federal Reserve was winning the battle against inflation provided an extra kick for global equities after recent drops caused by worries of a possible US recession.
Asia's main stock markets diverged as they closed out the week, while Wall Street advanced Thursday.
While concerns linger over last week's big miss on US jobs creation, traders are turning their attention to the central bank decision next Wednesday.
"Gold prices are once again at record levels as the dollar weakens ahead of an anticipated interest-rate cut from the US Federal Reserve," noted Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
"A weaker dollar is typically supportive to gold because it is denominated in the US currency.
"Lower rates are also a driver for the precious metal as it increases its attractiveness versus assets like cash and bonds."
The price of gold struck an all-time high $2,572.98 per ounce on Friday.
Having slashed rates in the early months of the pandemic, the Fed began hiking them in 2022 as inflation started to take hold, and they kept lifting until rates hit a two-decade high.
Now, with disinflation seemingly kicking in and the labour market softening, decision-makers are tipped to start cutting again, with debate on whether it will be a 25 or 50-basis-point move.
The European Central Bank on Thursday further reduced eurozone borrowing costs as inflation cools, while eyes will be on the Bank of England next week to see if it will carry out back-to-back cuts.
In company news, Danish logistics group DSV on Friday announced a deal to acquire Schenker, a division of German rail firm Deutsche Bahn, for 14.3 billion euros ($15.8 billion) and create a "powerhouse" in the freight-forwarding sector.
- Key figures around 1100 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.4 percent at 8,270.09 points
Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.3 percent at 7,457.00
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.5 percent at 18,617.85
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.7 percent at 36,581.76 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.8 percent at 17,369.09 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.5 percent at 2,704.09 (close)
New York - Dow: UP 0.6 percent at 41,096.77 (close)
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1090 from $1.1078 on Thursday
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3129 from $1.3126
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 140.63 yen from 141.78 yen
Euro/pound: UP at 84.49 pence from 84.36 pence
Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.9 percent at $72.64 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.0 percent at $69.64 per barrel
K.Thomson--BTB