Equity markets expected slightly higher after a mixed close on Wall Street. The Eurostoxx 50 opens at 4,169.87 points (+0.58%), the CAC 40 at 6,622.59 points (+0.59%), the DAX 30 at 15,651.75 points (+0.23% ), the FTSE 100 at 7,027.48 points (+0.16%), the SMI at 12,028.44 points (+0.36%), the AEX at 798.15 points (+0.50%), the BEL 20 at 4,150.92 points (+0.63%), the IBEX 35 at 8,733.70 points (+1.14%), the DJIA at 34,751.32 points (-0.18%), the Nasdaq at 15,181.92 points (+0.13%), the S&P 500 at 4,473.75 points (-0.16%) and the Nikkei 225 at 30,479.31 points with an increase of 0.51%.

Regarding exchange rates, the change from the close in New York indicates that EUR/USD opens at 1.1770 (+0.03%), EUR/JPY at 129.30 (+0.13%) and USD/JPY at 109.86 up 0.10%.

European equity markets are expected to open higher on Friday, but uncertainties over economic growth and the fallout from the Delta variant of the coronavirus continue to weigh on investor confidence. At 7:15 a.m., the CAC 40 futures contract gained 35.7 points, or 0.5%, according to data from broker IG Markets. The contract on the DAX gained 62 points, or 0.4%, and that on the FTSE 100 rose by 30.5 points, or 0.4%. The New York Stock Exchange ended in dispersed order Thursday, after another volatile session, after a series of indicators variously received by investors, including the unexpected rise in retail sales in the United States.

The Dow Jones Index (DJIA) ended down 0.2% despite moving into positive territory late in the session. The S&P 500 fell 0.2% after also rallying during the day. The Nasdaq Composite index, rich in technology stocks, for its part ended up 0.1% when it opened sharply lower. All three indices have lost ground since the start of the month as investors feared a market correction given high valuations. Analysts also wonder about the consequences of the spread of the Delta variant for the economic recovery. In mainland China, equity markets fell on Friday. Although China's near-term economic outlook appears more fragile, particularly due to the spread of Covid-19 in some provinces, Aberdeen Standard Investments believes growth will be supported by debt issuance and fixed asset investment from local authorities. At the end of the session, the Shanghai Composite index yielded 0.7%. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng gained 0.5%.

In Japan, the Nikkei index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange rose 0.5%, supported by the rise in technology and shipping stocks, which offset the decline in the steel and energy sectors. Investors are closely watching the news surrounding the ruling party leader election, due this month, as another candidate, Seiko Noda, enters the race.

Yields on US government bonds edged higher on Thursday after news of an unexpected rise in US retail sales in August as investors scrutinized other data ahead of the Reserve meeting Federal (Fed) next week. Around 7:30 a.m., the yield on the ten-year US Treasury, the market's benchmark bond, was flat at 1.336%.

The euro is almost stable Friday morning against the dollar, but gains a little ground against the yen, like the greenback. Markets are also looking to the Federal Reserve (Fed) monetary policy meeting scheduled for next week, hoping for clues on the timing of "tapering", or the reduction in bond purchases by the US central bank, adds ANZ.

Oil prices eased slightly on Friday morning after the world's benchmark crude contract hit its highest level in seven weeks. The market appears to be undersupplied at present, partly due to production restrictions still in place within the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC+), Commerzbank said. Concerns also remain about production disruptions in the Gulf of Mexico following Hurricane Ida. Commerzbank estimates that the market situation should remain tense until the end of the year, despite the production increases planned by OPEC+. The bank expects Brent to end the year at $75 a barrel and decline to $70 a barrel next year. Around 7:30 a.m., the November North Sea Brent contract lost 15 cents to $75.52 a barrel. The October contract for light sweet crude (WTI) listed on the Nymex fell 16 cents to $72.45 a barrel.