\nWorld shares are mixed in Europe and mostly higher in Asia after President Donald Trump<\/a> and a senior Chinese envoy said trade talks in Washington were making progress.<\/p>\n \nBritain’s FTSE 100 edged 0.1% higher to 7,408.92 after Prime Minister Theresa May requested a further Brexit<\/a> extension from the European Union until June 30 to give the U.K. breathing room since it is now scheduled to leave the bloc in just one week.<\/p>\n \nEuropean Council President Donald Tusk proposed a longer time frame, urging the 27 other EU nations to offer the U.K. a flexible extension of up to a year to make sure the nation doesn’t crash out of the bloc in a chaotic and costly way.<\/p>\n \nThe CAC 40 in France<\/a> gained 0.1% to 5,468.77 while Germany<\/a>‘s DAX slipped 0.1% to 11,975.93.<\/p>\n \nWall Street looked set for gains, with the future contract for the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1% to 26,425.00 while that for the S&P 500 climbed 0.2% to 2,886.90.<\/p>\n \nInvestors are also keeping a close watch on the latest rounds of U.S.-China trade negotiations. President Donald Trump said Thursday that the two sides were “rounding the turn” in the talks, which resumed Wednesday in Washington.<\/p>\n \nNo details were announced but Trump said after meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He that “something monumental” could be announced within weeks.<\/p>\n \nLiu, China’s top trade negotiator, told Trump that “because of your direct involvement, we do have great progress.”<\/p>\n \nThe dispute over technology policy, involving punitive tariffs imposed by both sides, has rattled markets and cast a pall over the outlook for the global economy.<\/p>\n \nChinese markets were closed Friday for holidays, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 index added 0.4% to 21,807.50. The Kospi in South Korea edged 0.1% higher to 2,209.61. The S&P ASX in Australia dropped 0.8% to 6,181.30, while India’s Sensex rose 0.2% to 38,773.02. Shares fell in New Zealand and Indonesia but rose in Singapore and Malaysia.<\/p>\n \nMarkets have been wobbly throughout the week as investors wait for the U.S. government’s jobs report on Friday and prepare for a new round of corporate earnings reports next week.<\/p>\n \nSAMSUNG PROFIT PLUNGES: Samsung Electronics Co. said Friday that its operating profit likely fell more than 60% in January-March from a year earlier amid falling memory chip prices and slowing demand for display panels. The South Korean technology giant estimated an operating profit of 6.2 trillion won ($5.4 billion) for the January-March quarter, which would represent a 60.4% drop from the same period last year. The company said revenue likely fell 14% to 52 trillion won ($45.8 billion).<\/p>\n \nCURRENCIES: The dollar rose to 111.71 Japanese yen from 111.66 yen. The euro rose to $1.1233 from $1.1221.<\/p>\n \nENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude rose 4 cents to $62.14 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It dropped 0.6% to settle at $62.10 a barrel on Thursday. Brent crude, used to price international oils, shed 9 cents to $69.31 per barrel.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n