NEW YORK, Sept 28: Stock markets mostly rose Friday as slowing US and European inflation raised hopes of more aggressive interest rate cuts while investors applauded China's measures to boost its struggling economy.
All major European markets closed higher, locking in strong gains for the week.
Wall Street stocks finished mixed after a choppy session, with the Dow edging to a fresh record and the Nasdaq retreating.
It's "clearly a very positive week, the third straight week of gains," said Angelo Kourkafas of Edward Jones.
Earlier, the Hong Kong and Shanghai stock markets finished the week more than 10 percent higher, with Shanghai seeing its strongest weekly gain since 2008.
The US personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index was up 2.2 percent from a year ago in August, down from 2.5 percent in July, the latest data point to show an easing in price pressure.
"Inflation stayed in its cage last month, reinforcing ideas that the Federal Reserve has runway to sharply cut rates in coming months," said Joe Mazzola, a strategist at Charles Schwab.
The Fed cut its main lending rates by 50 basis points earlier this month -- its first rate cut in more than four years -- and analysts expect further cuts at the next policy meeting in November.
US "inflation seems to be on a sustained path lower", said Bret Kenwell, US investment analyst at eToro trading platform.
For the Federal Reserve, he said, "it makes sense to turn their focus to the labor market, which has shown softness in recent months."
Annual inflation slowed sharply in France and Spain in September, official data showed on Friday, fueling speculation the European Central Bank (ECB) could also cut rates more aggressively than expected.
Besides expectations of lower rates, Europe's main stock markets were boosted by hopes of rebounding Chinese demand, especially for luxury products and cars.
In Frankfurt, BASF soared 7.2 percent after the German chemicals giant Thursday unveiled a major overhaul to focus on cost cutting and strengthening its core businesses.
In Paris, Ubisoft shares jumped 5.8 percent after Credit Agricole raised its stake to 11 percent -- making it the game company's largest shareholder.
In foreign exchange, the yen rallied against the dollar after Japan's ruling party elected a new leader, Shigeru Ishiba, who backs interest-rate hikes. The dollar was little changed against the euro. —AFP
