Pakistan, May 18 -- Investor optimism grows as equities rise and trade tensions ease

NEW YORK/SYDNEY - Global equity markets ended the week on a high note, with Wall Street and European shares rising on Friday. Investors responded positively to strong corporate earnings and a truce in the US-China tariff war, easing fears of a global economic slowdown.

European markets celebrated their fifth consecutive weekly gain, supported by encouraging earnings and renewed hopes for stronger trade relations. Meanwhile, US stocks also climbed, despite mixed economic signals such as weak housing data and falling consumer sentiment.

However, not all markets benefited. Gold prices dropped sharply and were set for their biggest weekly loss since Novemb...