London's FTSE 100 posted broad gains on Friday as brighter hopes of a U.S. interest rate cut fuelled risk appetite, while mid-cap Acacia Mining soared after agreeing to an increased buyout offer from Barrick Gold.

Finnish paper firm Stora Enso reported a bigger than expected fall in second-quarter profits on Friday, and said demand was set to slow down.

Barrick Gold Corp has agreed to buy out fellow shareholders in Acacia Mining in a deal that values the firm at 951 million pounds, ending a two-month standoff between the world's second biggest gold miner and its Africa unit.

South Korea's Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Hyun-chong said on Friday that Japan has violated the WTO's principle of free trade and international law by imposing unilateral export restrictions against South Korea while diplomatic efforts have not been exhausted.

The world's second biggest gold miner Barrick Gold Corp has agreed a deal to buy Tanzania-focussed Acacia Mining that values the firm at 951 million pounds, Acacia said on Friday.

* Sinopec executive asked for tax changes at congress meeting in March

* South Koreans boycott Japanese goods after Tokyo's export curbs

South Korea's Trade Ministry urged Japan on Friday to accept its request for another round of talks over Tokyo's tighter export controls, which are seen threatening global microchip and smartphone display supply chains.

Colombia's constitutional court on Thursday upheld its own restrictions on the aerial spraying of the herbicide glyphosate to eliminate coca, the base ingredient in cocaine, but said its use could be reinstated if the government meets certain conditions.

U.S. and Chinese officials spoke by telephone on Thursday as the world's two largest economies seek to end a year-long trade war, with U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin suggesting in-person talks could follow.