BANGKOK – World stock markets rose Friday amid relief Greece’s prime minister had abandoned a referendum on the country’s bailout but gains in Europe were muted ahead of monthly U.S. employment figures.
Oil prices rose above $94 a barrel amid signs the U.S. economy may be improving. The dollar was higher against the euro but lower against the yen.
European stocks were mostly higher in early trading. Britain’s FTSE 100 rose 0.3 percent to 5,560.45. Germany’s DAX fell 0.3 percent to 6,114.04 while France’s CAC-40 was 0.2 percent higher at 3,201.16.
Wall Street appeared headed toward a lower opening ahead of a closely-watched monthly employment report, with Dow Jones industrial futures down 0.1 percent at 11,959 and SP 500 futures losing 0.2 percent at 1,252.70.
Trading ended higher in Asia. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index rose 1.9 percent to close at 8,801.40. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng jumped 3.1 percent to 19,842.79. South Korea’s Kospi gained 3.1 percent to 1,928.41.
Mainland Chinese shares tracked advances in the region, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index adding 0.8 percent to 2,528.29 while the Shenzhen Composite Index gained 0.6 percent to 1,071.34. Benchmarks in Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, India, Indonesia and Thailand also rose.
The gains reversed four straight days of losses
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