US stocks ended higher on Friday on speculation that president-elect Donald Trump may temper his trade tariff threats.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 0.4 per cent higher at 44,910.65, while the S&P 500 jumped 0.6 per cent to 6,032.38. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.8 per cent to 19,218.17.
"With many US investors still out after being off for Thanksgiving yesterday, the key theme that has emerged in the last few days is the easing of tariff fears," AFP reported, quoting Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst at City Index and Forex.com.
Last week, Mr Trump said he will impose an extra 10 per cent tariff on goods from China and a tariff of 25 per cent on all products from Mexico and Canada, saying the additional levies will force America's neighbours to do more to stop migrants and illegal drugs flowing across US borders.
Mr Trump campaigned on pledges to introduce sweeping tariffs on allies and adversaries alike, policies, he says, will help pressure companies to restore manufacturing jobs in the US and raise revenue for the federal government.
However, tariff threats eased in recent days following a phone call between Mr Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who afterwards said: "There will not be a potential tariff war."
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also visited Donald Trump's Florida resort on Friday to meet the US president-elect, according to Reuters.
The outcome of the meeting is still not yet known but Canada is a major US trade partner, with the vast majority of its four million barrels per day of crude exports going to the US.
Chip companies notched gains, with Nvidia closing 2.2 per cent up, after a news report that President Joe Biden's administration was mulling further curbs on semiconductor equipment sales to China that were less severe than anticipated.
"While tariffs do not serve to optimism about lower interest rates, these protectionist policies are likely to ease the burden of competition for domestic US companies," Samer Hasn, senior market analyst at XS.com, said.
"This, in addition to the expected broad tax relief and reduced regulatory burdens, should provide a further boost to corporate profitability, which explains the continued gains in markets since Trump’s victory."
Global stocks also rose boosted by easing of tariff threat concerns.
In Europe, London's FTSE 100 rose 0.1 per cent, Paris' CAC 40 added 0.8 per cent, while Frankfurt's DAX was up 1 per cent when markets closed on Friday.
In Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index edged 0.3 per cent higher and Shanghai’s composite was up 0.9 per cent, with Japan’s Nikkei down 0.4 per cent.
Meanwhile, oil prices settled lower on easing Middle East tensions following a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah, with Brent down 0.46 per cent to close at $72.94 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate trading lower at $68 a barrel.
GULF MEN'S LEAGUE
Pool A Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Exiles, Dubai Tigers 2
Pool B Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jebel Ali Dragons, Dubai Knights Eagles, Dubai Tigers
Opening fixtures
Thursday, December 5
6.40pm, Pitch 8, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Dubai Knights Eagles
7pm, Pitch 2, Jebel Ali Dragons v Dubai Tigers
7pm, Pitch 4, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Exiles
7pm, Pitch 5, Bahrain v Dubai Eagles 2
Recent winners
2018 Dubai Hurricanes
2017 Dubai Exiles
2016 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2015 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2014 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
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Company%20profile
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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The%C2%A0specs%20
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MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
GROUPS
Group Gustavo Kuerten
Novak Djokovic (x1)
Alexander Zverev (x3)
Marin Cilic (x5)
John Isner (x8)
Group Lleyton Hewitt
Roger Federer (x2)
Kevin Anderson (x4)
Dominic Thiem (x6)
Kei Nishikori (x7)
The%20specs
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