Global shares were having their best day in nearly a month on Friday as European and Asian markets recovered from a brutal sell-off that still left them set for their worst week since February.

After a partial recovery in Asian shares overnight, European stocks opened higher, with the pan-European STOXX 600 up 0.9 per cent on the day. Germany's DAX was up 1.1 per cent, while Britain's FTSE 100 gained 0.4 per cent.

S&P stock futures pointed to a rebound in US stocks later in the day, while the VIX volatility index climbed down from an eight-month high.

The MSCI All-Country World index, which tracks shares in 47 countries, was up half a per cent on the day.

“Some traders are cautiously buying back into the market today, but the underlying issues which brought about the sell-off are still relevant,” said David Madden, markets analyst at CMC Markets in London.

The biggest market shake-out since February has been blamed on a series of factors, including worries about the impact of a Sino-US trade war, a spike in US bond yields this week and caution ahead of earnings season.

Trade figures from China on Friday showed China's trade surplus with the US hit a record high in September, providing a likely source of contention with US President Donald Trump over trade policies and the currency.

The data showed solid expansion in China's overall imports and exports, suggesting little damage from the tit-for-tat tariffs with the US.

That added to bullish sentiment on Friday, Madden said, also noting the decision by US Treasury staff to refrain from labelling China a currency manipulator as a positive for stocks.

Shanghai shares bounced 0.8 per cent, recouping earlier losses of 1.8 per cent as cheap valuations drew bargain hunters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 2.15 per cent, the biggest in more than two years.

But the bounce came after the index fell 3.6 per cent on Thursday to hit a one-and-a-half-year low. On the week, it is still on track for a weekly loss of 3.6 per cent. Japan's Nikkei average rose 0.5 per cent.

So far this week, Chinese and US shares are among the worst performers, a sign investor worries about the trade war are growing.

MSCI's US index has shed 5.5 per cent, compared with a 4.9 per cent fall for MSCI's gauge of stock performance in 47 countries. China A shares are still down 8.7 per cent.

“We're still left with the sense that there has been a significant shift that markets now have to take stock of,” said Chris Scicluna, head of economic research at Daiwa Capital Markets in London.

Gold, which had risen to a 10-week high on the back of the sell-off, fell half a per cent on Friday, down to $1.217.31 an ounce. The yield on 10-year US notes edged up in Europe to 3.170 per cent, reversing earlier falls on flight-to-quality bids.

It is still off its seven-year high of 3.261 per cent touched on Tuesday, but a further rise in the US borrowing costs could hurt risk sentiment.

“Asian stocks appeared to have stabilised, but ultimately where US bond yields will settle down will be key,” said Teppei Ino, senior analyst at MUFG Bank.

Adding confusion for investors, Trump launched a second day of criticism of the Federal Reserve on Thursday, calling its interest rate increases a “ridiculous” policy.

While that does not appear to have shaken investor confidence in the Fed's independence, some investors suspect expectations on future rate hikes could be undermined if Trump raises his threats levels.

“I doubt Trump will tolerate a further rise in US rates ahead of US mid-term elections. I believe the rise in US yields and the dollar's rally are coming to a turning point,” said Naoki Iwami, fixed income chief investment officer at Whiz Partners in Tokyo.

The dollar lacked momentum against a basket of major currencies as U.S. bond yields stayed off recent peaks. The index which measures the greenback against a basket, traded within a tight range, last at 95.009.

The euro was 0.1 per cent lower at $1.1582, after a gain of 0.65 per cent on Thursday. But the yen eased to 112.32 to the dollar after hitting a three-week high of 111.83 on Thursday. The Chinese yuan weakened half a per cent, giving up some of the gains it had made the previous day.

Oil prices bounced back on Friday. Brent crude futures rose 1.1 per cent to $81.14 a barrel, holding off a four-year high of $86.74 touched on Oct 3.

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