Global Stocks

European stocks mostly rose on Friday, as Bayer AG shares rallied on news the German conglomerate has reached a multibillion-euro deal to sell parts of its business, which helped the DAX register another record all-time high. Mining stocks advanced after upbeat import data from major metals consumer China.

Equity markets in Asia were broadly higher to start the week, with Japan's benchmark index leading gains thanks to a weaker yen, as global risk appetite continued to improve. The Nikkei Stock Average NIK, +0.56% was up 0.8% - on track to close at another 21-year high - helped in part by the U.S. dollar's JPYUSD, -0.099166% 0.2% gain against the yen in morning trade, which lifted export and finance stocks.

U.S. equity benchmarks finished the session and the week slightly higher on Friday, and the Nasdaq recorded an all-time high, as President Donald Trump delivered a speech decertifying a nuclear agreement with Iran. The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.13% rose 30.71 points, or 0.1%, to end at 22,871.72, after notching an intraday all-time high at 22,905.33, aided by gains in American Express Co. AXP, +1.36% and McDonald's Corp. MCD, +0.89%