- In the Colombian Pacific, fighting to save sharks
- Argentina's Matera banned for Italy Test after red card
- Vientos grand slam propels Mets in series-tying win over Dodgers
- Supporters of ex-Bolivia leader Morales block roads over possible arrest
- Germany into Nations League quarters, France and Italy win
- Nagelsmann lauds 'supercharged' Germany's 'best half of the year'
- 'Pandas are coming': Two new bears depart China for US capital
- Dodgers pitcher Kershaw plans to return for 2025
- Mbappe 'investigated for rape' in Sweden: report
- Revived Italy sweep past Israel in Nations League amid high security
- Trudeau slams India as tensions soar over Sikh separatist's murder
- Harris courts Black voters as Trump makes inroads
- Wall Street stocks hit fresh records as oil prices slide
- Nigerian team return home after boycotting AFCON qualifier in Libya
- Nigeria refuse to play in Libya as Algeria, Cameroon qualify
- Strike-hit Boeing leaves experts puzzled by strategy
- Leweling rockets Germany past Dutch and into Nations League quarterfinals
- Kolo Muani double fires France to win in Belgium
- Italy sweep past Israel in Nations League amid high security
- UN peacekeepers to 'stay in all positions' in Lebanon
- NASA launches probe to study if life possible on icy Jupiter moon
- 'Unique' Ronaldo an example to everyone, says Martinez
- New lawsuits against Sean Combs allege sex assault, including of minor
- Italy begins migrant transfers to Albania with first group of 16
- Google signs nuclear power deal with startup Kairos
- Carsley open to foreign England manager amid Guardiola links
- Pogba hungry to have his football cake after doping ban
- India and Canada expel top envoys in Sikh separatist killing row
- Mbappe says victim of 'fake news' after 'rape' report in Sweden
- Lebanon says 21 killed in strike on northern village
- Netanyahu vows no mercy after deadly Hezbollah drone strike
- Russia could be able to attack NATO by 2030: German intelligence
- EVs seek to regain sales momentum at Paris Motor Show
- Clarke backs Scotland to bounce back from 'tough' run
- Harris, Trump target crucial Pennsylvania as US vote looms
- NASA probe Europa Clipper lifts off for Jupiter's icy moon
- Lebanese Red Cross says 18 killed in strike in north
- Mendy borrowed money from Man City team-mates for legal fees
- Palestinian officials say Israeli forces kill two in West Bank
- Football leagues, unions file EU complaint against FIFA in calendar dispute
- Nigeria boycott AFCON qualifier in Libya after 'inhumane treatment'
- India to recall top envoy to Canada: foreign ministry
- Hezbollah, Israeli troops in 'violent clashes' after drone strike
- China insists won't renounce 'use of force' to take Taiwan as drills end
- Painkiller sale plan to US gives France major headache
- Italy begins landmark migrant transfers to Albania
- Russia jails French researcher for three years
- 'Unsustainable' housing crisis bedevils Spain's socialist govt
- Stocks shrug off China disappointment but oil slides
- New Zealand 4-0 up in America's Cup but British show signs of life
European stocks drift as traders weigh earnings, rates outlook
Asian and European stocks struggled Wednesday as investors digested a barrage of company results and assessed the US Federal Reserve's interest rate plans, while oil plumbed more multi-month lows on energy demand worries.
London stocks edged higher, aided partly by a ten-percent surge in retail stalwart M&S after it announced bumper profits and a return to the first shareholder dividend in four years.
Paris also rose with lender Credit Agricole jumping two percent after logging a solid third-quarter performance, but Frankfurt flatlined with Commerzbank falling 2.5 percent despite lifting its annual guidance and posting rising quarterly profit.
"European markets are hovering around the flatline as investors digest a slew of earnings reports," said Victoria Scholar, head of investment at trading firm Interactive Investor.
Oil prices sank to levels last seen in July on heightened demand fears arising from the weak global economy.
Crude had already plunged about four percent the previous day on news that China's exports fell at a faster pace than predicted in October. That stoked fresh concern over its appetite for energy.
"Oil prices tumbled head over heels," noted analyst Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management.
"This sharp decline was primarily driven by concerns about the outlook of global demand due to weak data points from China and other economies."
Asian stock markets meanwhile wobbled Wednesday with US monetary policy is in focus after the US central bank hinted last week at no more tightening.
However, Fed officials refuse to commit one way or the other for now, instead saying they want to see more evidence that inflation is on a true downward slope and the labour market has softened enough.
Data on Friday that showed jobs creation was slowing -- but not too much to cause worry about the economy -- instilled confidence the Fed was on course to deliver a soft landing for the economy and avoid a recession.
Chicago Fed boss Austan Goolsbee gave little away Tuesday, saying he was lasering in on getting control of prices.
"We've got to get inflation down -- that's the number-one thing," he told CNBC. "I'm absolutely hammering that's what we should be watching."
He added that it was looking possible to do that without hurting the economy.
- Key figures around 1150 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 7,415.37 points
Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.2 percent at 7,001.53
Frankfurt - DAX: FLAT at 15,152.93
EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.1 percent at 4,157.33
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.3 percent at 32,166.48 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.6 percent at 17,568.46 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.2 percent at 3,052.37 (close)
New York - Dow: UP 0.2 percent at 34,152.60 (close)
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0663 from $1.0700 on Tuesday
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2246 from $1.2300
Dollar/yen: UP at 150.75 yen from 150.37 yen
Euro/pound: UP at 87.07 pence from 86.99 pence
Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.7 percent at $81.02 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.8 percent at $76.76 per barrel
X.Karnes--AMWN