- Draft UN climate pact leaves open thorny question of money
- 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
RIO | -1.52% | 66.685 | $ | |
BTI | 0.22% | 35.529 | $ | |
CMSC | 0.44% | 24.8 | $ | |
SCS | 0.99% | 13.11 | $ | |
JRI | 0.26% | 13.12 | $ | |
BP | -3.54% | 30.895 | $ | |
BCE | 3.14% | 33.615 | $ | |
RBGPF | 1.67% | 60.5 | $ | |
CMSD | 0.26% | 25.045 | $ | |
RYCEF | -0.57% | 6.99 | $ | |
NGG | 1.02% | 67.58 | $ | |
GSK | 0.41% | 39.29 | $ | |
BCC | -0.25% | 142.62 | $ | |
RELX | 2.08% | 48.385 | $ | |
AZN | -0.44% | 77.755 | $ | |
VOD | 0.15% | 9.695 | $ |
Stocks mixed as investors worry over Middle East crisis
Wall Street advanced but European stock markets fell Thursday as investors worry over rising US Treasury yields and the Israel-Hamas crisis potentially growing into a wider conflict in the Middle East.
Wall Street opened higher after falling the previous day, while Europe's main stock markets extended losses following heavy falls earlier in Asia.
Gold continued to be buoyed by investors flocking to the haven investment. Oil prices fell.
"The current risk appetite remains conservative at best, due to the prevailing economic uncertainties and heightened geopolitical risks emitting from the Middle East," said Fawad Razaqzada, analyst at City Index and FOREX.com.
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.
There are fears of worse to come if Israel launches its anticipated ground invasion aimed at destroying Hamas and rescuing Israeli and foreign hostages.
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 -- the interest rate the government pays to borrow -- above 4.9 percent for the first time since 2007, fanning even more unease on trading floors.
"The surge in US 10-year Treasury yields, perhaps a delayed reaction from robust US retail sales data earlier, has taken the forefront in global financial markets," Razaqzada said.
Investors were also awaiting a speech by Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell for more signals about the central bank plans for interest rates.
- Netflix jumps, Tesla falls -
Investors are also tracking a wave of corporate earnings.
Shares in Nestle fell after the Swiss food giant reported a drop in sales volume in the first nine months of the year after raising prices in the face of rising inflation.
Nokia was also down after the Finnish telecommunications equipment giant said it would cut up to 14,000 jobs as profits fell on weakening demand for its 5G equipment in North America.
Shares in US streaming giant Netflix soared a day after it reported 11 percent growth in subscribers in the third quarter.
Tesla fell after its third-quarter results missed analyst estimates as the electric car maker was hit by higher costs and the fallout from price discounts.
- Key figures around 1340 GMT -
New York - Dow: UP 0.1 percent at 33,665.08 points points
London - FTSE 100: DOWN 1.0 percent at 7,509.76
Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.2 percent at 15,061.55
Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.6 percent at 6,927.97
EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.3 percent at 4,0093.72
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)
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0577 from $1.0536 on Wednesday
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2155 from $1.2140
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 149.80 yen from 149.93 yen
Euro/pound: UP at 87.03 pence from 86.78 pence
Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 1.3 percent at $90.31 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.3 percent at $87.15 per barrel
L.Mason--AMWN