NEW YORK, March 22: Major global stock markets mostly suffered another difficult day Friday, with heightened concerns over the potential fallout from US President Donald Trump's tariff agenda blunting confidence.
Gold held firm after hitting a new record Thursday. Oil prices picked up slightly amid simmering tensions in the crude-heavy Middle East, where Israel threatened to annex part of the Gaza Strip and Sudan's army retook control of the presidential palace.
US stocks slumped on opening but eked out gains by day-end with all three major indexes closing higher after fluctuations.
Angelo Kourkafas of Edward Jones noted that there is "some hesitation" given the trade uncertainties ahead of Trump's expected April 2 announcement on "reciprocal tariffs."
But Trump told reporters Friday that "there'll be flexibility" in his plans.
At the close of trading, major European indices likewise had been through a tough day following some heavy falls in Asia. London, Frankfurt and Paris all closed lower. �"AFP
