- China tees up fresh spending to boost ailing economy
- China says will issue special bonds to boost ailing economy
- China offers $325 bn in fiscal stimulus for ailing economy
- Dodgers drop Padres 2-0 to advance in MLB playoffs
- Alexei Navalny wrote he knew he would die in prison in new memoir
- Last-minute legal ruling allows betting on US election
- Despite hurricanes, Floridians refuse to leave 'paradise'
- Israel observes Yom Kippur amid firestorm over Lebanon strikes
- Trump demonizes migrants in dark, misleading speech
- X says 'alert' to manipulation efforts after pro-Russia bots report
- US, European markets rise before Boeing unveils sweeping job cuts
- Small Quebec company dominates one part of NHL hockey: jerseys
- Comoros shock Tunisia, Salah, Mbeumo strike in AFCON qualifiers
- Boeing to cut 10% of workforce as it sees big Q3 loss
- Germany win in Nations League as 10-man Dutch rescue point
- Undav brace sends Germany to victory against Bosnia
- Israel says fired at 'threat' near UN position in Lebanon
- Want to film in Paris? No sexism allowed
- Ecuador's last mountain iceman dies at 80
- Milton leaves at least 16 dead, millions without power in Florida
- Senegal set to announce breakaway development agenda: PM
- UN says 2 peacekeepers wounded in south Lebanon explosions
- Injury-hit Australia thrash 'embarrassing' Pakistan at Women's T20 World Cup
- Internal TikTok documents show prioritization of traffic over well-being
- Israel says fired at 'immediate threat' near UN position in Lebanon
- New US coach Pochettino hails Pulisic but worries over workload
- Brazil orders closure of 2,000 betting sites
- UK govt urged to raise pro-democracy tycoon's case with China
- Sculptor Lalanne's animal creations sell for $59 mn
- From Tesla to Trump: Behind Musk's giant leap into politics
- US, European markets rise as investors weigh rates, earnings
- In Colombia, children trade plastic waste for school supplies
- Supercharged hurricanes trigger 'perfect storm' for disinformation
- JPMorgan Chase profits top estimates, bank sees 'resilient' US economy
- Djokovic proves staying power as he progresses to Shanghai semi-finals
- Sheffield Utd boss Wilder 'numb' after Baldock death
- Little progress at key meet ahead of COP29 climate summit
- Fans immerse themselves in Marina Abramovic's first China exhibition
- Israel says conducting review after UN peacekeepers wounded in Lebanon
- 'Party atmosphere': Skygazers treated to another aurora show
- Djokovic 'overwhelmed' after 'greatest rival' Nadal's retirement
- Zelensky in Berlin says hopes war with Russia will end next year
- Kyrgyzstan opens rare probe into glacier destruction
- European Mediterranean states discuss Middle East, migration
- Djokovic proves staying power as progresses to Shanghai semi-finals
- Hurricane Milton leaves at least 16 dead as Florida cleans up
- Britain face 'ultimate challenge' in America's Cup duel with New Zealand
- Lebanon calls for 'immediate' ceasefire in Israel-Hezbollah war
- Nihon Hidankyo: Japan's A-bomb survivors awarded Nobel
- Thunberg leads pro-Palestinian, climate protest in Milan
Stock markets diverge before more key earnings
Major stock markets diverged Monday as traders awaited more earnings updates this week from heavyweight companies, including HSBC bank, chip giant Nvidia and retail giant Walmart.
Focus this week will be on also minutes from the most recent policy meetings of the US Federal Reserve and European Central Bank for clues on when markets can expect the pair to start cutting interest rates as inflation cools.
On Monday, mainland Chinese stocks were buoyant after Lunar New Year, leading gains in most other Asian markets, as figures showed holiday spending surged past pre-pandemic levels.
Hong Kong closed down 1.1 percent, breaking a three-day rally, with analysts saying investors felt uneasy after a decision by China's central bank to leave a key policy rate unchanged, seen as an attempt to bolster the yuan.
Tokyo's key Nikkei index ended flat.
In Europe, Paris and Frankfurt dropped in late morning deals. London steadied, managing to avoid an overall loss as shares in AstraZeneca rallied after the drugs giant had a lung cancer treatment approved in the United States.
"The US markets will be closed on Monday in observance of Presidents’ Day... but China is back after a week-long holiday, and we will have earnings from Nvidia in mid-week," noted Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst at City Index trading group.
"Investors have continually ignored the Fed’s consistent pushback against expectations of an early rate cut. Instead, they have chosen to concentrate on mostly stronger earnings and the AI optimism, taking advantage of the bullish momentum to drive stocks higher.
Razaqzada cautioned that "a correction of some sort, should not come as major surprise in the tech sector".
A larger-than-expected rise in US wholesale prices, according to data on Friday, dealt a blow to hopes of an early interest-rate cut by the Fed.
Elsewhere Monday, oil prices dropped as weak demand growth expectations offset tensions in the crude-rich Middle East.
- Key figures around 1115 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 7,718.19 points
Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.4 percent at 7,736.40
Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.4 percent at 17,055.23
EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.3 percent at 4,749.23
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: FLAT at 38,470.38 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.1 percent at 16,155.61 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: UP 1.6 percent at 2,910.54 (close)
New York - Dow: DOWN 0.4 percent at 38,627.99 points (close)
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0775 from $1.0781 on Friday
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 149.98 yen from 150.16 yen
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2619 from $1.2603
Euro/pound: DOWN at 85.38 pence from 85.51 pence
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.3 percent at $78.94 per barrel
Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.8 percent at $82.84 per barrel
burs-bcp/rl
P.Santos--AMWN