- 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
- North Korea blows up roads connecting it to the South
- East Timor fights new battles 25 years after independence vote
- Japan election campaigns kick off for Oct 27 vote
- Home runs propel Mets, Yankees to MLB playoff victories
- Taiwan detects record 153 Chinese military aircraft after drills
- Oil prices drop on easing fears over Middle East, most markets rise
- Reoxygenating oceans: startups lead the way in Baltic Sea
- North Korea's Kim holds security meeting over drone flights
- Cars, chlamydia threaten Australian koalas
Stocks, oil drop as traders assess Middle East war prospects
Global stock markets and oil prices dropped Thursday as traders assessed the likelihood of the Israel-Hamas crisis turning into a wider conflict in the Middle East.
Europe's main stock markets extended the week's losses, after heavy falls earlier in Asia and on Wall Street.
Gold continued to be buoyed by investors flocking to the haven investment.
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip desperately awaited the arrival of aid trucks Thursday, promised under a deal US President Joe Biden struck with Egypt and Israel.
Biden, on a flying visit to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet on Wednesday, reiterated strong US support for the long-time ally but also stressed the need to address the plight of Palestinian civilians.
Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday became the latest foreign leader to make a solidarity visit to Israel.
"US (stocks) markets experienced a troubled session last night and negativity spread across Europe and Asia on Thursday," noted AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.
There are fears of worse to come if Israel launches its anticipated ground invasion aimed at destroying Hamas and rescuing Israeli and foreign hostages, whose known number Israel on Thursday revised up to 203.
The conflict -- sparked by the bloody October 7 Hamas attack on Israel that officials said has claimed more than 1,400 lives -- has set off a wave of fury across the Middle East against Israel and its Western allies.
The violence has claimed at least 3,500 lives in Gaza, its Hamas-controlled health ministry said. Entire city blocks have been levelled, water, food and power have been cut off, and over one million people have been displaced.
The prospect of a wider conflict had pushed up oil prices Wednesday, though Washington's decision to suspend some sanctions on Venezuelan output tempered the gains and both contracts slid two percent on Thursday.
Risk aversion among traders was increased by concerns the Federal Reserve would hike interest rates again, or at least keep them elevated for an extended period.
That has pushed US 10-year Treasury yields above 4.9 percent for the first time since 2007, fanning even more unease on trading floors, with focus turning to a speech Thursday from Fed boss Jerome Powell.
- Key figures around 1100 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.8 percent at 7,524.59 points
Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.2 percent at 15,070.91
Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.6 percent at 6,926.40
EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.1 percent at 4,102.67
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.9 percent at 31,430.62 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 2.5 percent at 17,295.89 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 1.7 percent at 3,005.39 (close)
New York - Dow: DOWN 1.0 percent at 33,665.08 points (close)
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0539 from $1.0536 on Wednesday
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2094 from $1.2140
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 149.85 yen from 149.93 yen
Euro/pound: UP at 87.14 pence from 86.78 pence
Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 2.0 percent at $89.65 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.9 percent at $86.67 per barrel
T.Ward--AMWN