After a tumultuous week, USA stocks were lower in NY trading, though MSCI’s all-country world stock index was up 0.4 percent.
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Numerous media reports cited witnesses who claimed the assailant shouted “Britain first”, a factor potentially linking Cox’s murder to the June 23 vote, although the alleged comments are yet to be verified.
Concerns that Britain would cause turmoil in the global economy and European politics by voting to leave the 28-country bloc rattled markets and caused the pound to tumble earlier this week. Police said they arrested a 52-year-old man, but did not know of a motive for the killing. But Japanese shares were still poised to shed more than 5 percent for a week in which the perceived safe-haven yen soared after the Bank of Japan opted to stay the course on policy instead of mustering additional stimulus in the face of risks from waning inflation and weak global growth.
The British pound hit a USA trading high after the news, and was last up slightly at $1.4207.
The benchmark 10-year Treasury notes US10YT=RR fell 16/32 in price to yield 1.618 percent. The S&P 500 snapped a five-day losing streak on Thursday. The S&P 500 closed 6.50 points, or 0.3%, higher at 2,078.00.
For the week, the three major USA indexes each posted declines of at least 1 percent.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS was up 0.5 percent, but was down almost 3 percent for the week.
Tech and logistics shares outperformed the market, while bio and health care stocks were at bottom. The FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 ended up 1.2 percent.
Brent crude added 0.5 percent to $47.41 per barrel, while US crude futures rose 0.3 percent to $46.35.
The euro added 0.7 percent to 117.87 yen, but was still down more than 2 percent for the week.
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Gold also advanced, with spot gold rising to $1,292.90, after wild swings overnight.
