- 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
- Taipei says Chinese aircraft carrier group sailed through Taiwan Strait
- LeBron, Bronny James make NBA history with father-son appearance
- Deyverson double gives Atletico upper hand over River Plate
- Tokyo Metro: Asia's oldest subway goes public
- Shiffrin eyes 100 World Cup wins as legend Hirscher returns
- Asian markets mixed as rate cut bets are trimmed; US vote in focus
- From Colombia's jungle to the world's fish tanks
- Celtics dominate Knicks to launch NBA title defense
- North Korean leader Kim inspects missile bases, ballistic weapons
- Harris says US ready for woman president
- King Charles winds up Australia trip, flies to Samoa summit
- Porn stars urge men to vote against Trump
- Judge orders Giuliani to hand over valuables in bankruptcy
Stocks mixed as rate cut bets are trimmed, US vote in focus
Equities diverged Wednesday after another unremarkable day on Wall Street, where rising bond yields and comments from Federal Reserve officials dampened expectations for US interest rate cuts.
A global rally that has seen several markets hit multiple records -- particularly in New York -- appears to have run out of gas as traders assess the US central bank's plans in the wake of forecast-topping economic data and ahead of a tight presidential election.
They are also keeping tabs on Beijing, hoping for more measures to reignite growth after a slew of stimulus over the past month, while geopolitical tensions helped push safe-haven gold to another peak.
Bets on another bumper 50-basis-point rate cut at the Fed's next meeting have dwindled following a recent spate of data showing the world's top economy in rude health and the labour markets resilient.
A number of key members of the bank's policy board have said that while they are in favour of further reductions, they did not want to go too quickly.
That comes as markets eye a possible Donald Trump victory in next month's presidential polls, which observers warn could see him implement tax cuts and impose tariffs that could restoke inflation.
Treasury yields are at their highest since July.
"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 Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management.
"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."
The Dow and S&P 500 both fell for a second straight day on Wall Street, having ended at fresh peaks Friday, though the Nasdaq ticked higher.
Asian markets fluctuated.
Tokyo ended down despite a weaker yen caused by a softening of expectations on US rate cuts. The Japanese unit is sitting at more than 152 per dollar, levels not seen since July.
However, shares in Tokyo Metro rocketed 45 percent on their debut after its government owners raised $2.3 billion in Japan's biggest initial public offering for six years.
Wellington, Manila, Jakarta and Taipei also fell.
Hong Kong climbed more than one percent, building on the healthy run-up enjoyed in the wake of China's raft of economic support measures.
Shanghai also advanced, along with Sydney, Seoul, Singapore and Mumbai.
London edged up but Paris and Frankfurt dipped.
Gold touched a new record of $2,755.47 on the uncertainty over the US vote as well as fears about the Middle East crisis as Israel plots its retaliation against Iran after this month's missile barrage by Tehran.
The geopolitical concerns offset the rowing back of US rate-cut bets that had helped propel bullion higher in recent months.
Oil ticked down after surging more than two percent Tuesday in reaction to Chinese authorities lifting import quotas on independent oil refineries from next year in a sign growth may be recovering.
- Key figures around 0810 GMT -
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)
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.2 percent at 8,322.37
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0786 from $1.0800 on Tuesday
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2971 from $1.2977
Dollar/yen: UP at 152.36 yen from 151.02 yen
Euro/pound: UP at 83.16 pence from 83.14 pence
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.7 percent at $71.27 per barrel
Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.6 percent at $75.58 per barrel
New York - Dow: FLAT at 42,924.89 (close)
I.Meyer--BTB