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SYDNEY (Reuters) -Asian stocks were set to end a strong week on a softer note on Friday as the euphoria over U.S.-China trade talks faded, while firmer bets for policy easing in the United States sparked a rally in beaten-down bond markets. Oil prices steadied after plunging over 2% overnight on news of a potential U.S.-Iran nuclear deal, but they are still up 1% for the week as the global economic outlook brightened. European shares are bracing for a similarly subdued open with little data or events scheduled later in the day to provide a clear catalyst.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -The dollar fell in tandem with U.S. Treasury yields on Friday after downside surprises on U.S. economic data this week cemented bets of more Federal Reserve rate cuts this year. Most of the action in the foreign exchange market came from the dollar's moves against the South Korean won, where it fell sharply for a second straight day on news that Washington and Seoul discussed the dollar/won market earlier this month. "Speculation is once again mounting that President Trump favours a weaker dollar, potentially pressuring other governments to allow their currencies to appreciate in trade negotiations," said George Vessey, lead FX and macro strategist at Convera.

Oil prices extended declines on Friday under increased supply pressure from an OPEC+ output hike and the prospect of an Iranian nuclear deal, yet are heading for a second consecutive weekly gain due to easing U.S.-China trade tensions. Both contracts fell more than 2% in the previous session following a selloff on the prospect of an Iranian nuclear deal. U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States was nearing a nuclear deal with Iran, with Tehran "sort of" agreeing to its terms.

(Reuters) -A number of high-profile asset managers cut their stakes in spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds amid a 12% drop in the cryptocurrency's price in the first quarter of 2025, according to recent regulatory filings. This marks a shift from previous quarters when asset managers had typically increased their holdings in spot bitcoin ETFs, as shown in previous quarterly 13-F filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Spot bitcoin ETFs, which made their market debut in January 2024, now paint a more complex picture.

In the most recent trading session, Levi Strauss (LEVI) closed at $17.51, indicating a -0.11% shift from the previous trading day.

Cooler inflation pressures in the shape of surprisingly soft U.S. economic data and a slide in oil prices helped bring down Treasury yields and support stocks on Thursday, although the recent surge on Wall Street does appear to be losing steam. In my column today I look at how the decline in U.S. inflation - a healthy development, in most people's eyes - is coming with an unwelcome side effect - rising real yields.

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