Japan’s core inflation hit 3.0% in February and an index stripping away the effect of fuel rose at the fastest pace in nearly a year, a sign of broadening price pressure that reinforces market expectations of further interest rate hikes.

The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits increased slightly last week, suggesting the labor market remained stable in March, though the outlook is darkening amid rising trade tensions and deep cuts in government spending.

Asian stocks fell on Friday in a downbeat end to the week as deepening geopolitical worries and fears over U.S. tariffs and their impact on the global economy curbed investors appetite for risk, keeping safe-haven gold near record highs.

Oil prices rose to a near three-week high in Asian trade on Friday, as fresh U.S. sanctions against Iran and plans to cut production by the OPEC+ pointed to tighter supplies in the coming months.

The U.S. dollar was on the front foot against major peers on Friday after its best single-day performance for three weeks with the Federal Reserve indicating no rush to cut interest rates.

The U.K. unemployment rate remained unchanged in January, data showed Thursday, and wage growth also held steady, providing the Bank of England with the potential to resume its rate-easing path later in the months to come.