Oil prices rose for a second consecutive session on Monday, with concerns escalating over potential supply disruptions in the Middle East after Israel stepped up attacks on Palestianian militant group Hamas and Iranian-backed forces in the region.
Chinese stocks are headed for the best week since 2008 as Beijing rolled out a huge stimulus package to revive the economy, lifting Asian shares to 2-1/2-year highs, while a sharp fall in oil prices bodes well for disinflation globally.
Oil prices fell for a third day on Friday, on course to end the week lower, as investors focused on expectations of higher supplies from Libya and the broader OPEC+ group of oil exporters.
The dollar wobbled on Friday, poised for a fourth straight week of declines as investors weighed U.S. data to gauge the pace of interest rate cuts, while China's spree of stimulus measures kept risk-sensitive currencies aloft.
Most Asian stocks rose on Thursday amid persistent cheer over stimulus measures in China, while technology stocks- particularly chipmakers- rallied tracking strong earnings from U.S. peer Micron.
Oil prices slumped on Thursday, reversing earlier gains, on news Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest crude exporter, will give up on its price target in preparation for raising output.