- Leclerc hails Ferrari fightback from torrid Singapore GP qualifying
- Belgian Evenepoel retains world title in 'toughest time trial'
- Sosa rescues point for Forest against Brighton
- Last-gasp Boniface gives Leverkusen victory over Wolfsburg in seven-goal thriller
- Swiss voters reject environment, pensions reforms: official results
- No fairytale ending for Ricciardo after 13 years in Formula One
- Israel and Hezbollah urged to step back from the brink
- What is the UN's 'Pact for the Future'?
- Norris dominates Singapore Grand Prix to cut Verstappen's title lead
- From bullets to ballots: Sri Lanka's comrade president-elect
- McLaren's Lando Norris wins Singapore GP to narrow F1 title race
- UN adopts pact promising to build 'brighter future' for humanity
- Military escalation not in Israel's 'best interest': White House
- Marxist leader declared Sri Lanka's president-elect
- Classes resume at Bangladesh university at heart of protests
- 'Barely anyone left': Sudan's El-Fasher devastated by fighting
- 'Warrior' Joshua vows to fight on despite Dubois mauling
- Martin extends MotoGP lead as Bastianini wins at Misano and Bagnaia crashes out
- New French government instantly under pressure on multiple fronts
- Australia's Brown adds world title to Olympic time trial gold
- Russian strike on Ukraine's Kharkiv wounds 21
- UK's Starmer rules out austerity as Labour conference opens
- Swiss voters reject environment, pensions reforms: projected results
- Israel says 'landed blows' on Hezbollah as Lebanon violence intensifies
- Roma CEO steps down amid anger over club icon De Rossi's sacking
- Incoming French government under pressure on multiple fronts
- Hezbollah rockets strike near Israel's Haifa as UN warns of 'catastrophe'
- Haddad Maia roars back to beat Kasatkina in Korea Open final
- All-rounder Ashwin powers India to 280-run Test win over Bangladesh
- Failed Springbok 'gamble' sets up rugby championship decider
- Lebanon strikes send Israelis to shelters as UN warns of 'catastrophe'
- Far-right AfD eyes new win in east German state vote
- Tony Popovic set to become new Socceroos coach - reports
- All-round Ashwin powers India to big Test win over Bangladesh
- NZ chase 275 to win first Sri Lanka Test after Patel bags six
- Ashwin bags six wickets as India hammer Bangladesh in first Test
- 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
Stocks climb, oil steadies on Ukraine-Russia peace hopes
Stock markets advanced and oil prices steadied Tuesday as investors eyed possible progress in talks between Russia and Ukraine aimed at halting military action.
Crude futures had soared more than seven percent Monday on supply worries as European leaders debated banning imports from Russia.
Some members are pushing to ramp up pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin with more sanctions, though others, including Germany -- which still relies on Moscow's fuel -- have been reluctant to target key sectors.
Adding to the pressure, Saudi Arabia warned that Yemeni rebel attacks on its oil facilities pose a "direct threat" to global supplies, after Red Sea facilities belonging to giant Saudi Aramco were targeted.
"The oil market remains one of the most volatile," noted Walid Koudmani, chief market analyst at XTB.
Soaring oil prices have been a driver of turmoil on world markets in recent weeks as demand surges also as economies reopen from pandemic lockdowns.
That, along with a spike in the cost of other key commodities, such as metals and wheat on the Ukraine conflict, has sent global inflation rocketing and caused central banks to hike interest rates.
There is a growing fear that the global economy could endure a period of stagflation whereby prices soar but growth stalls.
Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell on Monday indicated the US central bank could lift borrowing costs faster than market expectations to keep a leash on inflation.
"I sense that the Fed might well deliver 50 basis point hikes in both May and June as policymakers recognise it will be tough to get inflation down without higher unemployment," said SPI Asset Management's Stephen Innes.
Regarding the Ukraine war, the Kremlin on Tuesday said it would like negotiations with Kyiv aimed at ending Russia's military action to have more substance.
The two sides are holding negotiations remotely after several rounds of talks between delegations meeting on the border between Belarus and Ukraine.
So far, the talks have yielded little progress, with both sides blaming the other, and none has been at the presidential level.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed an offer of direct peace talks with Putin late Monday.
In Asia, Hong Kong's main stocks index finished sharply higher Tuesday, resuming last week's rally sparked by China's pledge to support the country's markets and indicated a tech crackdown was nearing an end.
- Key figures around 1200 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.5 percent at 7,475.81 points
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.7 percent at 14,427.54
Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.6 percent at 6,623.82
EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.7 percent at 3,910.49
Brent North Sea crude: UP 0.1 percent at $115.73 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: FLAT at $109.93 per barrel
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.5 percent at 27,224.11 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 3.2 percent at 21,889.28 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.2 percent at 3,259.86 (close)
New York - DOW: DOWN 0.6 percent at 34,552.99 (close)
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0998 from $1.1013 Monday
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3215 from $1.3156
Euro/pound: DOWN at 83.22 pence from 83.67 pence
Dollar/yen: UP at 120.74 yen from 119.47 yen
Y.Bouchard--BTB