- Sri Lanka level T20 series with record-breaking West Indies win
- French footballer Ben Yedder on trial for sexual assault
- India foreign minister in arch-rival Pakistan for rare visit
- Restored 'Apollo Belvedere' marble back on show in the Vatican
- Lagos festival dances to Nigerian icon Fela Kuti's beat
- Italian PM hails 'courageous' Albania migrant deal
- 'Tragedy in Jabalia' as Israel army tightens siege in north Gaza
- Draft UN climate pact leaves open thorny question of money
- Two giant pandas arrive in US from China aboard 'Panda Express'
- Musiala and Upamecano return to Bayern training
- Wirtz return 'unclear' after injury on Germany duty
- Ghulam says 'wait is over' after century on Pakistan debut
- Boeing to raise up to $25 bn as strike weighs on finances
- Two giant pandas arrive in US from China
- Japan hold Australia, S. Korea and China win in World Cup qualifying
- Mbappe's golden-boy image takes a hit amid negative headlines
- Hezbollah threatens to attack targets across Israel
- Oil prices fall on easing Middle East fears
- Wales lock Jenkins to miss November Tests with 'horrible' injury lay-off
- France to play Israel in Paris and allow fans in
- Twin panda cubs to make public debut at Berlin zoo
- Scotland's Kinghorn maintains Lions 'dream' despite Toulouse clash
- Pakistan debutant Ghulam hits century to defy England in second Test
- Boeing announces intention to raise up to $25 bn
- Tuchel 'in talks with FA' over England manager's job
- Dutch rider Lavreysen targets record at world track championships
- Bangladesh suspend Hathurusingha as coach after alleged assault
- Russian Olympic chief announces surprise resignation
- Ferguson to leave Man Utd ambassador role as club cuts costs
- Turkish govt defends tax plan to fund defence industry
- Oil prices tumble on easing Middle East fears
- Eidevall quits as Arsenal Women head coach
- US, Philippines launch war games after China's Taiwan drills, ship collision
- Swedish prosecutor confirms 'rape' probe without naming Mbappe
- England dismiss Ayub but Pakistan reach 173-3 at tea in second Test
- Israel vows to put 'national interest' first in response to Iran attack
- Oil prices hit by easing Middle East fears, most Asian markets rise
- Mbappe-PSG salary row faces hearing as France captain cited in 'rape' report
- K-pop star tells South Korea lawmakers of workplace bullying
- Ex-Wallabies captain Elsom denies wrongdoing after arrest warrant
- Pakistan 79-2 at lunch in second England Test after Leach strikes
- Hopes pinned on peace across Taiwan Strait after drills
- Valencia fans leave Singapore with 'stern warning' after protest
- Falling sales cause sour grapes for iconic Portugal wine
- Belgian pathologist and literary star gives 'voice to the dead'
- Ethiopia's 'korale' recyclers turn waste into money
- Italy row, AI in focus at world's biggest book fair
- US, Philippines launch war games a day after China's Taiwan drills
- Scotland lock Gray signs for Japan's Toyota
- Allen and Bills foil Rodgers, outlast Jets 23-20
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Markets waver as Biden set for Middle East diplomacy drive
Major stock markets were mixed Tuesday and oil prices rose slightly as US President Joe Biden prepared for a trip to the Middle East aimed at preventing the Israel-Hamas conflict spreading across the region.
The haven dollar climbed on the eve of Wednesday's visit.
The pound came under pressure from official data showing cooler wages growth in Britain, increasing expectations that the Bank of England was done with raising interest rates to fight inflation.
The euro diverged against main rivals after a key survey showed German investor confidence improved more than expected in October.
This was thanks to slowing inflation and growing prospects that the European Central Bank was also done with hiking borrowing costs.
All eyes were on Biden's trip.
"The recent risk-off sentiment that had cast a shadow over the markets seems to be easing, partly due to extensive shuttle diplomacy by the White House and other regional actors," noted Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management.
"Nevertheless, this optimism comes before Israel launches its ground offensive in Gaza, and this development could swiftly sour sentiment once more."
The US president's trip comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lines up forces on the Gazan border ahead of an expected ground incursion as Tel Aviv retaliates after deadly October 7 attacks by Hamas militants.
Biden was to meet Netanyahu on Wednesday, and will also see Jordanian King Abdullah II, Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in hopes of finding a way to de-escalate a crisis that threatens the stability of the region.
His visit comes after his Secretary of State Antony Blinken returned for a second time since the attacks, and announced that Israel had agreed to work on civilian aid for Gaza as calls mount to let in vital supplies to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.
The drive to avert a war that could draw in other regional players, including Iran and Lebanon-based Hezbollah, helped push Wall Street higher Monday, with all three main indexes up around one percent.
Oil prices moved within a narrow band after dropping more than one percent Monday, with the commodity also capped by reports that Washington was easing restrictions on Venezuelan crude.
However, the fluid situation kept investors wary that anything could develop in an instant.
"The price action doesn't reflect an improvement in investors' outlook for the Israeli conflict, rather the absence of a significant escalation," said Ian Lyngen, at BMO Capital Markets.
A planned meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday in Beijing was also expected to be closely followed by market watchers.
- Key figures around 1100 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.5 percent at 7,664.84 points
Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.3 percent at 15,194.43
Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.1 percent at 7,014.71
EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.2 percent at 4,140.59
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.2 percent at 32,040.29 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.8 percent at 17,773.34 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.3 percent at 3,083.50 (close)
New York - Dow: UP 0.9 percent at 33,984.54 (close)
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0554 from $1.0562 on Monday
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2160 from $1.2218
Dollar/yen: UP at 149.54 yen from 149.53 yen
Euro/pound: UP at 86.78 pence from 86.42 pence
Brent North Sea crude: UP 0.3 percent at $89.95 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.2 percent at $86.81 per barrel
T.Ward--AMWN