The Bulgarian parliament on Friday appointed a new banking supervisor as the Balkan country prepares to join Europe's banking union and the euro zone's waiting room this year.

* Graphic: Trade-weighted sterling since Brexit vote http://tmsnrt.rs/2hwV9Hv

More Britons will back leaving the European Union without a deal after the European Union offered a delay to Brexit, the former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party Nigel Farage said on Friday.

British Prime Minister Theresa May is "very, very unlikely" to win support in parliament for the Brexit divorce deal she agreed with the European Union, a eurosceptic member of her minority government said on Friday.

The dollar dropped on Friday, giving up some of its overnight gains and on track for a second consecutive weekly dip thanks to renewed downward pressure on government bond yields.

The Bulgarian parliament on Friday appointed a new banking supervisor as the Balkan country prepares to join Europe's banking union and the euro zone this year.

Asian shares held near 6-1/2-month highs on Friday after upbeat U.S. data and optimism in the tech sector helped calm some of the jitters sparked by the Federal Reserve's cautious outlook on the world's biggest economy.

The dollar eased against a basket of currencies on Friday while sterling gained slightly on news that Prime Minister Theresa May had bought a bit more time to resolve when and how Britain exits from the European Union.

Asian shares hit 6-1/2-month highs on Friday after upbeat U.S. data and optimism in the tech sector lifted Wall Street stocks, helping calm some of the jitters sparked by the Federal Reserve's cautious outlook on the world's biggest economy.

Asian shares advanced on Friday after upbeat data and optimism in the tech sector lifted Wall Street stocks, helping calm some of the jitters sparked by the Federal Reserve's cautious outlook on the world's biggest economy.