Share futures jump, gold slips on hopes for diplomacy in Ukraine By

By Tom Westbrook

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Stocks rose cautiously on Friday as investors pinned their hopes on high-level diplomacy next week to avoid a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

U.S. stock index futures rose after news that the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken agreed to a meeting with Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, raising the prospect of ending the standoff over Ukraine.[nL1N2US0M8]

Oil was headed for a weekly fall as the prospect of extra supply from Iran returning to the market eclipsed fears of a possible supply disruption arising from a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“There is caution but there is no major derisking as the markets see the risk of invasion as low right now,” said Seema Shah, chief strategist at Principal Global Investors.

Indications of a firmer start on Wall Street helped to lift shares in Europe, where the STOXX () index of 600 companies was up 0.3% at 466 points, six percent below the lifetime high hit in the first week of 2022.

Some good corporate news also helped to keep stocks above water.

Renault (PA:) jumped 3.6% as the French carmaker swung into profit in 2021, while Finnish drug manufacturer Orion (HE:) rallied 23% to the top of the STOXX 600 following positive trial results for its prostrate cancer treatment.

British retail sales grew faster than expected in January, recovering about half the losses suffered when a wave of coronavirus cases caused many shoppers to stay at home during December. London’s blue chip index () was up 0.2%.

The MSCI All Country stock index () was slightly lower, dragged down by losses in Asia. S&P 500 futures () were up 0.7% and Nasdaq futures () gained 0.8%.

Worries over the pace of anticipated interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve have largely been priced into markets for now, helping to underpin sentiment, Shah said.

“It looks like because of geopolitical risk, it’s pushed back the chances of a 50 basis point hike, the markets have reduced their expectations,” she said.

“The market is getting close to peak in terms of rate expections. Once you hit that peak, things should settle down.”

St. Louis Fed president James Bullard on Thursday reiterated his call for the Fed funds rate to be raised to 1% by July to combat stubbornly high inflation and Fed funds futures price about a 1/3 chance of a 50 bps hike next month to begin. [nL1N2US1IO]

Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester said the pace of hikes will need to be faster than previous cycles. [nL1N2US2ZD]

There is little in the way of major data in Europe and the United States on Friday to offer direction.

GRAPHIC – Fund flows: Global equities, bonds and money market

https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/lgpdwxdqgvo/Fund%20flows-%20Global%20equities%20bonds%20and%20money%20market.jpg

ASIAN SHARES WEAK

Safe-haven currencies such as the Japanese yen and Swiss franc retreated a…