Global shares were mostly higher Friday, reflecting optimism on Wall Street as worries abated about the health of the U.S. economy, AP reported. France's CAC 40 gained 0.5 percent to 4,698.73 in early trading, while Germany's DAX rose 0.6 percent to 10,126.33. Britain's FTSE 100 added 0.6 percent to 6,378.82. U.S. shares were set to drift higher with S&P 500 futures at 2,019.40, up 0.02 percent. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 added 1.1 percent to 18,291.80. But South Korea's Kospi inched down nearly 0.2 percent to 2,030.26. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.7 percent to 23,047.54, while the Shanghai Composite in mainland China was up 1.6 percent at 3,391.35. Other regional markets were mixed, with shares rising in Singapore and the Philippines, and falling in Thailand and Indonesia. Benchmark U.S. crude added 63 cents to $47.01 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, used to price international oils, rose 52 cents to $50.25. The dollar rose to 119.12 yen from 118.38 yen. The euro cost $1.1372, down from $1.1435.
