US equity futures are slightly firmer after a positive close on Thursday. European markets are trading higher, with record highs for the STOXX 600. Asian equities ended mixed, with Japan and Australia extending their rallies while South Korea fell after reopening post-holiday. Market attention remains on the latest US tariff announcements, with Trump confirming 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico set to take effect Saturday, while China faces a 10% tariff. Uncertainty remains on whether these tariffs will be fully implemented or adjusted at the last minute. Investors are also watching macro data closely, with inflation updates from France, Germany, and Portugal following Spain’s firmer-than-expected reading. The ECB reiterated confidence in reaching its inflation target, cutting rates by 25 bps as expected.

Companies mentioned: NVIDIA, Samsung Electronics, SoftBank, OpenAI