European stock markets struck fresh record highs Friday on growing hopes that central banks are close to cutting interest rates.
Wall Street stocks also climbed to sit near their record levels, while oil prices edged up as investors tracked developments in the Middle East.
London, Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam all hit new heights, with global equities benefitting also from strong first-quarter earnings.
“European markets are on the rise despite concerns that a resurgence in UK growth could yet hinder hopes for a dovish pivot from the Bank of England in the months ahead,” noted Joshua Mahony, chief market analyst at Scope Markets.
Britain exited a shallow recession with better-than-expected growth in the first quarter, official data showed Friday, in a boost to embattled Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of…