Investors are keeping a close eye on the debt ceiling negotiations in the U.S. as well as comments from Federal Reserve head Jerome Powell. The main indices posted gains on Thursday, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite closing at their highest levels since August last year. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he was hopeful that congressional negotiators would sew up a deal for a vote next week. Most still expect the U.S. central bank to pause its aggressive rate-hiking cycle, but several Fed officials have taken a hawkish stance this week. In the corporate sector, quarterly earnings are due from Deere & Company and Foot Locker. Oil prices rose Friday as traders took advantage of the optimism surrounding the potential raising of the U.S. debt ceiling. Gold futures also rose 0.4% to $1,968.35/oz, while EUR/USD traded 0.2% higher at 1.0794.
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