- Asian markets mixed after Wall St drop, Shanghai dips before briefing
- Automaker Stellantis says CEO will retire in 2026
- Musk's promised robotaxi unveil delayed
- Kamada says Japan can close in on World Cup place against Australia
- On US coast, wind power foes embrace 'Save the Whales' argument
- Renewables revolt in Sardinia, Italy's coal-fired island
- Argentina held, Brazil leave it late in 2026 World Cup qualifiers
- Obama blasts 'crazy' Trump in first rally for Harris
- 2024 Nobel Peace Prize, a plea in favour of world order?
- Fry homers as Guardians down Tigers to stay alive in MLB playoffs
- Japan PM presses China's Li on airspace intrusion
- In Trump 'Truths,' conspiracies, attacks -- and doubts about the election
- How Sebastian Stan found a 'relatable' Trump for 'The Apprentice' biopic
- Panama's water wheel trash collector keeps plastic at bay
- It's still 'the economy, stupid,' says US political guru Carville
- Five key dates in the history of the America's Cup
- Zelensky to meet Pope, Scholz as whirlwind Europe tour ends
- At least 10 dead in Florida but Hurricane Milton not as bad as feared
- Far from eye, Hurricane Milton's deadly tornados rampaged Florida
- At least 10 dead in Florida after Hurricane Milton spawns tornadoes
- Argentina held, Bolivia stun Colombia in 2026 qualifiers
- Socceroos have 'nothing to fear' from Japan
- Sean 'Diddy' Combs sex trafficking trial set for May 2025
- Bolivia stun Colombia in World Cup qualifiers
- Internet Archive reels from 'catastrophic' cyberattack, data breach
- Greece earn late win against England in Nations League, Italy-Belgium stalemate
- Trump biopic 'The Apprentice' hits US theaters weeks before election
- Pavlidis dedicates 'special' Greece win over England to tragic Baldock
- Wall Street stocks retreat from records on US inflation data
- 'Like a quake': Beirut shaken after deadliest strikes on centre
- Fallen giants Ghana in AFCON trouble after Sudan draw
- Asian leaders meet in Laos with US, Russia on world turmoil
- England gamble backfires as Pavlidis fires emotional Greece to victory
- Obama stumps for Harris, Trump talks US protectionism
- New-look France ease past Israel in Nations League
- Belgium fight back to draw with 10-man Italy in Nations League
- 'Get a life': Hurricane whips up US election storm
- Japan stay perfect in World Cup qualifying
- Relief as Lebanon evacuees dock in Turkey
- Lebanon says 22 dead in Israeli strikes on central Beirut
- NBA boss Silver sees games back in China 'at some point'
- Israel strikes central Beirut, killing 22
- Table tennis and Netflix push Ukraine teen into French Open contention
- Civilians flee Gaza's Jabalia in tightening Israeli siege
- Israel strikes central Beirut, killing 18
- At least 10 dead in Florida from tornadoes caused by Hurricane Milton
- Warhol's rare 'Queen' collection opens at Dutch museum
- Three-time NBA champion Green retires
- MLB Twins up for sale after 40 years
- S.Sudan floods affect 893,000, over 241,000 displaced: UN
Stocks mixed after rally over interest rate outlook
European and US stock markets fluctuated Friday after rallying this week over the prospect of a series of interest rate cuts later this year.
Wall Street's three main indexes were largely flat at the open, after hitting records on Thursday.
The Paris stock exchange was in the red and Frankfurt in the green in afternoon deals.
London, which has lagged behind most major markets so far this year, was the strongest gainer, with the FTSE 100 index up 0.6 percent in early afternoon trading.
It had gained almost two percent Thursday as the Bank of England signalled it could start cutting interest rates over the UK summer.
"This shift in rate cut expectations from the BOE is like a red flag to a bull, and markets have rallied sharply," said Kathleen Brooks, an analyst at XTB.com.
"The FTSE 100 is benefitting more than the other indices because it was cheap," she said.
The Swiss National Bank on Thursday became the first major central bank to cut rates aimed at combatting soaring inflation.
Wall Street indexes hit record levels Thursday before profit-taking took them off their highs, but are still on track to end the week with health gains.
Equities across the world had surged Thursday in response to the Federal Reserve's closely watched dot plot projection that it would lower borrowing costs three times this year, even after figures showed prices ticking up in January and February.
"The prevailing belief is that rate reductions are cautiously on the horizon (and) investors are embracing the idea of a soft economic landing," said Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management.
"However, with US yields holding firm and the dollar rallying on the Fed's upward adjustments to growth and inflation forecasts, there may eventually be some second-guessing of the Fed's rate cut outlook," he said.
Apple was up slightly Friday after being walloped Thursday when US regulators said they were opening antitrust proceedings against the company for how its limits competition in the iPhone ecosystem.
In the eurozone, Paris and Frankfurt appear to have largely priced in a rate cut from the European Central Bank in June.
"(ECB President) Christine Lagarde's comments this week suggest that a first ECB rate cut in June remains most likely but there is a significant risk that the easing cycle will start later," said Franziska Palmas, senior Europe economist at Capital Economics.
Frankfurt rose as a key survey showed that German business morale rose more strongly than expected in March.
The Ifo institute's closely watched confidence barometer, based on a survey of around 9,000 companies, rose to 87.8 points, from 85.7 in February.
- Key figures around 1340 GMT -
New York - Dow: DOWN less than 0.1 percent at 39,775.11
New York - S&P 500: UP less than 0.1 percent at 5,242.62
New York - Nasdaq Composite: DOWN less than 0.1 percent at 16,392.88
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.6 percent at 7,932.75 points
Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.3 percent at 8,154.21
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.2 percent at 18,211.44
EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.5 percent at 5,028.87
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.2 percent at 40,888.43 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 2.2 percent at 16,499.47 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 1.0 percent at 3,048.03 (close)
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2613 from $1.2653 on Thursday
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 151.19 yen from 151.65 yen
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0825 from $1.0861
Euro/pound: DOWN at 85.79 pence from 85.94 pence
Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.2 percent at $85.94 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.2 percent at $81.25 per barrel
Y.Aukaiv--AMWN