Rising risks from the Middle East have loomed large on the world's top indexes again this week.

Europe's main bourses all rose between 0.5%-1% after similar gains across Asia, although it was touch and go whether it would be enough to prevent a second straight weekly loss for MSCI's main world index.

Israel bombed targets in Iran, and Iran fired missiles at Israel overnight as the week-old war continued although Friday's markets moves, which also included a modest drop in the Dollar, showed an element of relief.

That was largely pinned on Thursday's statement from the White House that Trump will decide in the next two weeks, rather than right away,  whether the US will get involved in the war.

European foreign ministers were to meet their Iranian counterpart in Geneva on Friday, seeking a path back to diplomacy over its contested nuclear programme.

The relief the US wasn't charging into the conflict sent oil prices down as low as $76.10 per barrel, although they were last at just over $77 and still up 4% for the week and 20% for the month.

--Reuters--