Stocks, dollar stall ahead of US jobs data; oil gains as Gulf tensions flare

LONDON, Aug 7 : Global stocks headed for their strongest weekly gain since May on Friday, ahead of major U.S. jobs data, as investor optimism over robust earnings growth and enthusiasm over AI offset concern about another flare-up in Middle East tensions that boosted oil.MSCI's All-World index has risen 2.3 per cent this week, the most in three months, and on Friday was steady, while shares in drugmakers and technology companies lifted Europe's STOXX 600 by 0.2 per cent on the day and 1.6 per cent for the week. After bouts of volatility sparked by concerns over the durability of the AI-driven rally, investors are now squarely focused on the U.S. payrolls report due later in the day, which could prove crucial for the interest-rate outlook. Forecasts are centred on a rise of 80,000 jobs for