- Harris, Trump seek advantage in knife-edge election battle
- Chepngetich shatters women's marathon world record in Chicago
- Kamindu and Asalanka power Sri Lanka to 179 against West Indies
- Chepngetich shatters women's marathon world record as Korir wins in Chicago
- Spain send injured Yamal home 'to prioritise player's health'
- In milestone, SpaceX 'catches' megarocket booster after test flight
- Iraq walks fine line with pro-Iran factions to avoid war
- Race four abandoned after New Zealand breeze into 3-0 lead in America's Cup
- West Indies win toss, put Sri Lanka in to bat in first T20
- Sudan rescuers say air strike killed 23 in Khartoum market
- Netanyahu tells UN to move Lebanon peacekeepers out of 'harm's way'
- Bangladeshi Hindus defy attack worries to celebrate festival
- Kiwis three up in America's Cup as Ineos pay for time penalty
- In a first, SpaceX 'catches' megarocket booster after test flight
- Dominant England crush Scotland at Women's T20 World Cup
- Dropped: The rise and fall of Pakistan batting maestro Babar Azam
- Israel fights Hezbollah on the ground, pounds Lebanon from the air
- Sabalenka outlasts local hero Zheng to win third Wuhan Open title
- Bangladeshi Hindus shrug off attack worries to celebrate festival
- Former Pakistan captain Azam dropped for second England Test
- 'Opportunist' Dupont dazzles on Toulouse return
- Australia replace injured Vlaeminck with Graham at Women's T20 World Cup
- Sinner wins Shanghai Masters to deny Djokovic 100th career title
- Ubisoft fears assassin's hit over falling sales
- Israel hits Lebanon from the air and fights Hezbollah on the ground
- China's Yin has 'goosebumps' as she romps to LPGA win in Shanghai
- Pakistan to re-use Multan pitch for second England Test
- Blair and King Charles hail Salmond's 'devotion' to Scotland
- Vietnam, China hold talks on calming South China Sea tensions
- SpaceX will try to 'catch' giant Starship rocket shortly before landing
- England captain Stokes in line for second Pakistan Test return
- Japan's former empress Michiko discharged after surgery: reports
- Japan's former empress Michiko discharged after surgey: reports
- Israel widens Lebanon strikes as troops fight Hezbollah along border
- Bowlers' graveyards: Pakistan's placid pitches under fresh fire
- 'Little Gregory' murder haunts France 40 years on
- Vietnam, China to expand rail links, cross-border payments
- Americans get their belief back as Pochettino makes his mark
- Vietnam, China to boost economic, defence cooperation
- Winning start for Pochettino's American adventure
- Tariffs, tax cuts, energy: What is in Trump's economic plan?
- Amazon wants to be everything to everyone
- US firms brace for more tariffs as election approaches
- Winning start for Poch's American adventure
- Morocco's tribeswomen see facial tattoo tradition fade
- Centre-left set to win as pro-Ukraine Lithuania votes
- Colombia guerilla group urges delegations not to attend COP16 in Cali
- Pakistan frets over security ahead of SCO summit
- Ronaldo scores 133rd Portugal goal in Nations League win over Poland
- 40 nations contributing to UN Lebanon peacekeeping force condemn 'attacks'
Global stocks mostly retreat
Asian and European stock markets mostly fell Wednesday as traders took cash off the table after a blockbuster end to 2023, with eyes now on the release this week of US Federal Reserve minutes and jobs data.
Oil prices declined after spiking Tuesday on supply concerns linked to simmering tensions between Iran and the United States in the Red Sea.
The dollar rose against the euro and yen as dealers awaited fresh clues on the Fed's interest-rate outlook in the upcoming minutes from its final monetary policy meeting of 2023.
"Messaging from the central bank seemed a touch confused at the end of 2023 as it initially implied rate cuts in 2024 before such talk was dampened," noted AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.
The "minutes may provide some clarity", he added.
Equities surged late last year on expectations the US central bank would slash interest rates in 2024 as inflation cools.
However, analysts have warned of an excessive rally and that investors should prepare for a pullback, with tech titans such as Apple and Amazon likely to take a hit.
"The market may have gotten ahead of itself about (rate) cuts," said City Index analyst Fiona Cincotta.
On Wall Street Tuesday, the Nasdaq slumped 1.6 percent and the S&P 500 was also in the red, though the Dow rose slightly.
The negative mood continued in Asia Wednesday, where Hong Kong, Sydney, Seoul and Taipei were among the biggest losers.
Shanghai edged higher and Tokyo was shut for a Japanese holiday.
In Europe, Paris sank more than one percent while London and Frankfurt each shed about half a percent.
The year "has kicked off with risk retrenchment", said Vishnu Varathan at Mizuho Bank.
"Whether this is a durable purge from excessive exuberance or merely profit-taking is unclear."
The Fed's post-meeting statement in December had indicated three interest rate cuts this year, though some market participants are tipping far more.
Friday sees the release of the closely watched US non-farm payrolls data.
- Key figures around 1130 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.5 percent at 7,682.24 points
Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 1.0 percent at 7,454.78
Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.6 percent at 16,671.26
EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.8 percent at 4,477.46
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.9 percent at 16,646.41 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.2 percent at 2,967.25 (close)
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: Closed for a holiday
New York - Dow: UP 0.1 percent at 37,715.04 points (close)
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0936 from $1.0942 on Tuesday
Dollar/yen: UP at 142.67 yen from 141.99 yen
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2628 from $1.2617
Euro/pound: DOWN at 86.59 pence from 86.72 pence
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.5 percent at $70.06 per barrel
Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.3 percent at $75.65 per barrel
Th.Berger--AMWN