A gauge of global stocks scored its sixth straight session of gains on Friday as investors assessed the start of U.S. earnings season and the path of inflation, while the yen jumped to a seven-month high on speculation the Bank of Japan may alter its loose monetary policy. On Wall Street, U.S. stocks shook off early declines and closed higher in the wake of earnings reports from several large banks such as JPMorgan Chase, up 2.52%, Wells Fargo , which rose 3.25%, Bank of America up 2.20% and Citigroup, which climbed 1.69%.
