- Nascent French government under pressure on multiple fronts
- Angry French cognac makers see red over Chinese tariffs threat
- Protect the prosciutto: Italy battles swine fever
- UN holds 'Summit of the Future' to tackle global crises
- Marxist leader set to become Sri Lanka's next president
- From blades to pull-up bars: UK charity tackles knife crime
- Swiss vote on pensions and environment protections
- No pain, no gain: Chinese pro wrestlers fight for recognition
- UAE leader seeks to deepen 'strategic' ties in US visit during Mideast crisis
- Hezbollah takes heavy hits but still fighting Israel
- Floods, landslides hit central Japan months after major quake
- All Blacks coach Robertson demands better finishing
- Argentina edge South Africa to keep title hopes alive
- Biden says China 'testing us,' in hot mic remarks to Quad allies
- Dubois destroys Joshua to retain IBF world heavyweight crown
- Guardiola says critics want Man City wiped 'from face of the Earth'
- Biden says 'Quad' is 'here to stay' despite challenges
- Dubois knocks out Joshua to retain IBF world heavyweight crown
- Vinicius helps 'faster' Madrid overturn stubborn Espanyol
- Zelensky to press US on long-range missile strikes inside Russia
- PSG drop first points in draw at Reims
- Vinicius, Mbappe on target as Madrid crush plucky Espanyol
- Jeeno leads Ko by two at LPGA Queen City Championship
- Bottega Veneta goes for 'E.T.' chic as Madonna pops into D&G
- Messi, Miami frustrated by New York late leveler
- Musk's X platform takes first step toward lifting Brazil ban
- 'Business as usual' for Australia match-winner Carey amid boos
- Israeli jets pound Lebanon after deadly Beirut strike
- Ten Hag bemoans Man Utd's lack of killer instinct in Palace stalemate
- France's Macron appoints new government in shift to right
- Cheika proud of Leicester grit after winning start as boss
- Profligate Man Utd pay price in 0-0 draw at Palace
- Kane, Olise run riot as Bayern thump Bremen
- Diaz fires Liverpool top of Premier League, Man Utd held at Palace
- LIV champion Rahm out of LIV Team semis with severe flu
- Slot surprised by tearful Nunez's moment of magic
- Title rivals Norris, Verstappen on 'cool' front row for Singapore GP
- Biden talks China with 'Quad' leaders in hometown summit
- Juve and Napoli play out goalless draw in early Serie A title tussle
- Alcaraz fears tennis tour grind will 'kill us'
- Carey sparks recovery as Australia thrash England in 2nd ODI
- Leclerc, Sainz lament 'disappointing' Saturday in Singapore
- Bottega Veneta holds investors' aces as Madonna pops into D&G
- Beirut digs for victims at building flattened in Israeli strike
- Verstappen stages protest over 'ridiculous' swearing punishment
- Bayern boss Kompany lauds 'special talent' Olise
- Diaz fires Liverpool top of Premier League, Spurs bounce back
- Heavy fire over Israel-Lebanon border after deadly Beirut strike
- Ramos guides unbeaten Toulouse to Montpellier win despite Hogg scuffle
- Myanmar flood death toll jumps to 384
Wall Street slumps as oil drops, Europe gains
US equities suffered in Monday's trading despite hopes for progress in peace talks between Ukraine and Russia as well as a drop in oil prices fueled by new Covid-19 lockdowns in China.
Europe shrugged off earlier losses in Asia after Moscow said it made headway Monday in peace talks with Kyiv ahead of the latest round of negotiations.
But Wall Street was generally gloomy, with indices starting positively before slumping by the end of trading. The Nasdaq lost two percent and the S&P 500 fell 0.7 percent.
Investors are jittery over looming Federal Reserve rate hikes, which are expected at the conclusion of the central bank's two-day policy meeting Wednesday, while the new pandemic shutdowns in China are also of concern because they could prolong the supply chain snarls that have pushed prices higher.
The US central bank is having to tread a fine line between reining in runaway inflation while also supporting the world's biggest economy in the face of the war in Ukraine, which many fear could lead to another recession.
Meanwhile the prospect of easing supply tensions and growing demand fears sent oil prices sliding, though sentiment was more positive in Europe.
"Moscow claims substantial progress in peace talks while escalating conflict... but that is enough for traders grabbing onto any good headline," said Markets.com analyst Neil Wilson.
Frankfurt shares ended the day 2.2 percent higher, and Paris added 1.8 percent while London gained 0.6 percent.
The latest talks come more than two weeks after Russia's President Vladimir Putin ordered his army to invade pro-Western Ukraine.
In Asia, investors worry that China's spreading coronavirus lockdowns could throttle the massive economy's demand for crude.
Stock prices in Hong Kong, in particular, took a pounding as an announced lockdown in Shenzhen fueled a tech-sector rout.
"The rapid spread of Covid across China is now unsettling investors, with expectations that mass lockdowns will once again blight the economy," said Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Susannah Streeter.
Oil demand was "expected to take a hit if Chinese economic output falls," she said.
Crude has continued to slide after rising to close to $140 per barrel last week, a near 14-year high.
However, the price of oil -- which keeps the wheels of the global economy turning -- remains elevated, at the same time feeding upward pressure on inflation.
- Key figures around 2015 GMT -
New York - Dow: FLAT at 32,945.24 (close)
New York - S&P 500: DOWN 0.7 percent at 4,173.11 (close)
New York - Nasdaq: DOWN 2.0 percent at 12,581.22 (close)
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.6 percent at 7,196.25 (close)
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 2.2 percent at 13,929.11 (close)
Paris - CAC 40: UP 1.8 percent at 6,369.24 (close)
EURO STOXX 50: UP 1.5 percent at 3,741.10 (close)
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 6.7 percent at $101.97 per barrel
Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 5.8 percent at $106.11
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 5.0 percent at 19,531.66 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 2.6 percent at 3,223.53 (close)
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.6 percent at 25,307.85 (close)
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0949 from $1.0912 Friday
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3003 from $1.3037
Euro/pound: UP at 84.18 pence from 83.70 pence
Dollar/yen: UP at 118.19 yen from 117.29 yen
burs-sea/spm/ach/cs/des
J.Horn--BTB