- India's one-horned rhino numbers charging ahead, govt says
- Rescuers comb muddy riverbanks after Japan floods kill seven
- Asian stocks boosted by US rate cut, China stimulus hope
- Sri Lanka's new leader says no magic solution to crisis
- Israel warns Lebanese as wave of strikes hits Hezbollah
- New Socceroos coach Popovic confident he can rescue World Cup campaign
- 'Put Austrians first': On a pub crawl with far-right voters
- Trial begins in Italy student murder case that opened eyes to femicide
- Family of murdered Sri Lanka editor seek justice from new president
- Austria's far right woos anti-vaxxers with fund for vaccine 'victims'
- Long wait for justice in India's backlogged courts
- Rohingya refugees detail worsening violence in Myanmar
- Rescuers comb muddy riverbanks after Japan floods kill six
- Sri Lankan leftist leader sworn in after landslide election win
- Indonesia, NZ deny Papua rebel claim 'bribe' paid for pilot release
- Swearing, shoeys and swift legs: Singapore GP talking points
- South Korea warns of 'decisive' action against trash balloons
- Football Australia names Tony Popovic as Socceroos coach
- Japan quake, flood victim attempts fresh start with wife's memory
- Japan quake, flood victim attemps fresh start with wife's memory
- Asian markets extend gains as focus turns to US inflation
- Six dead after floods in central Japan: media
- Australian golf prodigy suffers career-threatening eye injury
- Gaza hospital a symbol of the ruin of war
- October 7: how Israel's deadliest day unfolded
- Bibles, sneakers, silver coins: Trump's merch for sale
- Met Opera opens season with tech-heavy 'Grounded'
- Colombia's Inirida flower: from 'weed' to emblem for UN meeting
- Colombia rebel group imposes control in restive coca zone
- Rams fight back to upset 49ers, Cowboys lose again
- Sri Lankan leftist leader to take office after landslide election win
- 300-kilo WWI bomb removed in Belgrade
- Zelensky in US to explain war plan to Biden, Harris, Trump
- 'Atrocious' Sudan war pushing refugees further afield: UNHCR chief
- 'Convergence' growing on global plastics treaty: UN environment chief
- MLB White Sox fall to Padres to match one-season loss mark
- All-Australian Ripper squad captures LIV Golf team crown
- Barnier promises compromise from France's embattled new govt
- Zelensky arrives in US to explain war plan to Biden
- Barca rout Villarreal but Ter Stegen hurt, Atletico draw at Rayo
- Darnold shines for Vikings, Steelers and Eagles win
- Atletico held to draw at Rayo Vallecano
- Marseille stun Lyon with 95th-minute winner after early red card
- Gabbia ends AC Milan's derby pain with late winner against Inter
- Surging Ko claims LPGA Queen City crown in spectacular style
- 'Impossible': Alcaraz shoots down Federer comparisons after Laver Cup win
- Scholz's party beats far-right AfD in east German state vote
- Verstappen says 'silly' swearing row could hasten F1 exit
- Calls for Israel and Hezbollah to step back from the abyss
- Israel and Hezbollah urged to avoid 'catastrophe'
Oil prices sink as US mulls tapping reserves; equities struggle
Oil prices tumbled Thursday on reports that the United States is considering tapping reserves to combat a supply crisis sparked by the Ukraine war.
London's Brent crude and New York's WTI both dived around six percent, also ahead of an output decision from OPEC and fellow oil producers including Russia.
Equities struggled to build on the week's rally after Russia poured cold water on hopes that ceasefire talks with Ukraine were progressing, leaving the prospect of a protracted war.
Energy majors, like Britain's BP and France's TotalEnergies, saw their share prices drop as lower crude prices bites into revenues and profits.
"Oil prices are under considerable pressure... on news that the US government is planning a massive release of oil," said Commerzbank analyst Carsten Fritsch.
US President Joe Biden is reportedly looking at releasing a million barrels a day for several months -- totalling up to 180 million -- as he tries to temper a conflict-fuelled price surge.
- Eyes on OPEC -
The OPEC cartel and Russia-led partners hold a monthly meeting Thursday when they are expected to refrain from lifting output by more than previously planned, ignoring Western calls for a significant increase.
AJ Bell analyst Russ Mould downplayed the impact of the possible release in US reserves.
"A speculated release of one million barrels of oil per day over the coming months has to be seen in the context of total global output of around 100 million barrels per day," Mould noted.
"Really this is tinkering at the margins. What might put more of a brake on prices is action by OPEC."
The Ukraine war has already sent shockwaves through the world economy, with growth forecasts this year being lowered across the board.
The European development bank, EBRD, forecast gross domestic product in Russia and Ukraine would shrink 10 percent and 20 percent respectively this year.
London stocks dipped Thursday as data showed that the UK economy rebounded slightly less than initially thought last year and ahead of a far tougher 2022 on fallout from the Ukraine war and rampant inflation.
Asian equities fell Thursday after three days of healthy gains and following comments from Russian officials playing down progress in talks with Ukraine over the ceasefire.
Adding to selling pressure was data showing signs of a further slowdown in China's manufacturing sector caused by Covid lockdowns around the country, including in Shanghai.
- Key figures around 1130 GMT -
Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 5.9 percent at $106.79 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 6.0 percent at $101.39 per barrel
London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.2 percent at 7,562.22 points
Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.2 percent at 14,571.51
Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.4 percent at 6,714.75
EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.5 percent at 3,940.01
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.7 percent at 27,821.43 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.1 percent at 21,996.85 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.4 percent at 3,252.20 (close)
New York - DOW: DOWN 0.2 percent at 35,228.81 (close)
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1105 from $1.1159 late Wednesday
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3124 from $1.3134
Euro/pound: DOWN at 84.60 pence from 84.96 pence
Dollar/yen: UP at 121.94 yen from 121.83 yen
G.Schulte--BTB