European markets closed up on the strong US non-farm payroll numbers with London up 0.6%, Paris +0.7%, Frankfurt +0.8%. However the market momentum will be tested on Monday as Fitch ratings agency (as anticipated) downgraded Italian sovereign debt.
In Asia, Japan’s strong Q4 GDP powered the Nikkei up 2.6% with Hong Kong up 1.4%, China flat at -0.2%, India up 1.2%.