Asian-Pacific benchmarks finished Friday session higher. The Nikkei recovered from yesterday’s sharp decline and advanced 1.5% to 15,404.05, ignoring disappointing revised GDP report. Regional markets gained with Singapore Straits Times in the lead, up 0.7%, followed by Hong Kong’s Hang Seng, up 0.2%, and Taipei’s Weighted Index rising 0.2%.

European markets closed under the flat line as oil companies declined and chip stocks were pressured by Intel’s lowered fourth-quarter sales outlook. The German DAX 30 fell 0.1%, the French CAC 40 dropped 0.2%, and London’s FTSE 100 lost 0.3%.

OIL, METALS, CURRENCIES

Crude oil and natural gas prices retreated. Light sweet crude for January delivery dropped $1.46 to $59.20 a barrel on the Nymex. Natural gas futures fell 71 cents to $14.28 per 1,000 cubic feet, following a 10% rise on Thursday.

Gold hit a 25-year high, rising over $533 per ounce on robust world demand, inflation concerns and central-bank buying but at close gold for February delivery rose $7, or 1.5% to $530.20 per troy ounce. Since November 7, the precious metal has gained $75, or 16.4%. Silver rose to $9.105.

The U.S. dollar lost ground against the euro and pound, rose against the yen. In New York trading the euro was quoted at $1.1819, up from $1.1813. The dollar bought 120.57 yen, up from 120.26. The British pound stood at $1.7548, up from $1.7530.