STOXX 600 up 0.7% Eyes on U.S. inflation BOJ keeps policy on...

	  STOXX 600 up 0.7% 

	  Eyes on U.S. inflation 

	  BOJ keeps policy on hold 

	  Nasdaq futures surge 

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AN APRIL OF THE FTSE DOING WHAT THE FTSE DOES BEST The blue-chip 100-share index is heading for a second straight monthly gain in April, with a record high under its belt to boot. The surge on Thursday Anglo American shares AAL.L after BHP Group (BHP) 31-billion pound bid has helped the metals and mining sector to the top of the monthly leaderboard, with a 12.4% gain.

One of the FTSE's double-edged swords is its global, rather than domestic, focus - a boon when the economy is chugging along and commodity prices are on the up, but a major drag when neither of these two things are happening.

This month, with the rallies in oil, copper, gold and silver, iron ore and a raft of soft commodities, it is those globally-focussed sectors that have led the push higher in the broader index. Base and precious metals producer sectors are almost neck and neck, while oil and gas is a close third, with a 9.5% gain this month.

(Amanda Cooper)

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	FOR FRIDAY'S OTHER LIVE MARKETS POSTS: 

YEN WEAKNESS: GOOD OR BAD? CLICK HERE EUROPEAN OIL STOCKS DIP AFTER EXXON Q1 PROFIT MISS CLICK HERE

Q1 EARNINGS NOT TO BLAME FOR MARKET FATIGUE - BARCLAYS CLICK HERE

WHEN MARKETS STRUGGLE TO PRICE OUT A FED HIKE CLICK HERE STOXX 600 GETS EARNINGS BOOST CLICK HERE US TECH SET TO GIVE EUROPE BOOST CLICK HERE READING BOJ'S TEA LEAVES CLICK HERE

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BOJ operations, yields and yen	https://tmsnrt.rs/3Uz9OmY 

European shares extend losses https://tmsnrt.rs/47tgPt5 BarclaysECB https://tmsnrt.rs/44kMih8 BarclaysFed https://tmsnrt.rs/3xLkwhl The FTSE's winners and losers this month https://reut.rs/3Wzdbft

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