- Caelan Doris to captain Ireland in November rugby Tests
- 14 dead, thousands evacuated as tropical storm batters Philippines
- Boeing reports $6.2 bn loss on strike, defense contract woes
- Germany's Scholz heads to India despite differences on Russia
- Sri Lanka deploys troops to Jewish community centre after US warning
- Sione Tuipulotu named as Scotland captain for November internationals
- 'I'm broken', mass rape victim tells French court
- Don't let tech gurus decide the future: Nobel winner Simon Johnson
- Palestinian seeds join Arctic 'doomsday vault'
- Ariana Grande concert attack survivors win UK harassment case
- Blinken on new quest for Saudi ties with Israel
- UK and Germany sign 'milestone' defence deal
- Seoul says N.Korea sent more troops to Russia, Kyiv urges their surrender
- Mehidy, Jaker keep Bangladesh alive against South Africa
- Stock markets mixed, oil prices drop
- Stokes forecasts spin battle in Pakistan-England decider
- Volvo Cars cuts sales forecast on market headwinds
- South Africa 'shattered' by divorce of rugby star Kolisi
- Putin touts 'multipolar world order' at flagship BRICS summit
- Deutsche Bank profits boosted by legal settlements
- WHO says 'intense bombardment' halts Gaza polio vaccinations
- UK's Starmer plays down Trump team claims of interference
- Son of Singapore's founder granted asylum in UK
- Mehidy, Jaker take Bangladesh into lead over South Africa in Test
- Stocks mixed as rate cut bets are trimmed, US vote in focus
- Seven dead, thousands evacuated as tropical storm batters Philippines
- Pant fit for second Test as Gill gives India selection 'headache'
- S. Korean Olympic shooter Kim keeps cool over newfound fame
- UN chief in Russia for Putin's BRICS summit
- Markets mixed as rate cut bets are trimmed, US vote in focus
- US says 'now is the time' to end Gaza war
- Harris to face voters' queries in crucial Pennsylvania
- Mehidy fifty steers Bangladesh towards parity at 201-6
- King Charles arrives in Samoa, where Commonwealth looks to shed stodgy image
- Ohtani 50-50 baseball sells for record-breaking $4.39 million
- Morikawa says 'winning is tough' ahead of Japan title defence
- New Zealand's Bowes smashes record-breaking 103-ball double ton
- Troubled Boeing faces investors and awaits strike vote
- Indian capital chokes as 'hazardous' air pollution returns
- Thousands flee homes as fierce tropical storm batters Philippines
- Tokyo Metro shares rocket on debut
- Israel says killed Nasrallah's apparent successor in Beirut strike
- Climate change worsened deadly Africa floods, scientists say
- Los Angeles Dodgers baseball icon Fernando Valenzuela dead at 63
- Indian capital's 'hazardous' air pollution season starts
- King Charles visits Samoa, where Commonwealth looks to shed stodgy image
- Cattle disease wreaks havoc in Libya
- Fernando Valenzuela: Iconic pitcher sparked 'Fernandomania'
- Warner offers to come out of retirement for India Test series
- Deyverson double gives Atletico Mineiro upper hand over River Plate
BCC | -3.18% | 133.65 | $ | |
JRI | 0.91% | 13.19 | $ | |
BCE | -0.2% | 33.255 | $ | |
SCS | -0.47% | 12.75 | $ | |
RBGPF | 0.72% | 62.45 | $ | |
CMSC | 0.34% | 24.735 | $ | |
GSK | -0.58% | 37.78 | $ | |
RIO | -1.79% | 64.33 | $ | |
CMSD | 0.24% | 24.93 | $ | |
RYCEF | 0.14% | 7.37 | $ | |
VOD | -1.22% | 9.435 | $ | |
NGG | -0.23% | 66.14 | $ | |
RELX | -0.89% | 46.605 | $ | |
BP | -0.62% | 31.385 | $ | |
BTI | -0.61% | 34.68 | $ | |
AZN | -0.51% | 76.93 | $ |
Stock markets mixed, oil prices drop
European and Asian stock markets traded mixed Wednesday and oil prices retreated as investors focused on company earnings and the outlook for the US and Chinese economies.
Wall Street steadied Tuesday following its recent record-breaking run higher.
"There are some big US earnings releases later today, including Boeing and Tesla, who will report earnings once the US market closes," noted Kathleen Brooks, research director at trading group XTB.
"These will be watched closely to see if any positive earnings surprises can boost the US blue chip stock market back to its winning ways."
Away from company results, shares in Tokyo Metro rocketed 45 percent in Japan's biggest initial public offering for six years.
Gold struck yet another record high with the precious metal profiting from its haven status as markets struggle to nail down a winner in the upcoming US presidential election and owing to fears of an escalating crisis in the Middle East.
Crude futures slid more than one percent having shot higher Tuesday on an indicator pointing to increased demand in China which is taking measures to stimulate its flagging economy, the world's second biggest after the United States.
With the US economy in rude health, bets on another bumper cut to interest rates at the Federal Reserve's next meeting have dwindled, supporting the dollar and especially against the yen on Wednesday.
It comes as markets eye a possible Donald Trump victory in next month's presidential polls.
"Investors are navigating a tangled web of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, a Federal Reserve turning out less dovish than expected, and the sudden reawakening of the 'Trump Trade'," said independent analyst Stephen Innes.
The Trump Trade describes investors acting in expectation of the economic and political policies of a potential second Trump administration.
"The latter has shaken the bond market, forcing some bond traders to pull their heads out of the sand as real jitters emerge about the fiscal landscape post-election."
US bond yields are at their highest since July, with analysts arguing that a Trump win could see a renewed rise to inflation as the former president favours tax cuts.
- Key figures around 1015 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.3 percent at 8,286.08 points
Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.5 percent at 7,499.73
Frankfurt - DAX: FLAT at 19,419.64
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.8 percent at 38,104.86 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 1.3 percent at 20,760.15 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.5 percent at 3,302.80 (close)
New York - Dow: FLAT at 42,924.89 (close)
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0785 from $1.0800 on Tuesday
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2978 from $1.2977
Dollar/yen: UP at 152.67 yen from 151.02 yen
Euro/pound: DOWN at 83.07 pence from 83.14 pence
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.2 percent at $70.85 per barrel
Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 1.2 percent at $75.13 per barrel
T.Bondarenko--BTB