- 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 rallying over interest rate outlook
European and US stock markets were mixed Friday after gaining earlier in the week over expectations of a series of interest rate cuts later this year.
On Wall Street, the Dow fell as it was pulled lower by Nike, which reported weak sales in China.
The wider S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq were little changed in late morning trading, after hitting records on Thursday. All three are headed for healthy gains for the week.
Frankfurt rose after a survey showed improved business confidence, while Paris closed lower.
Markets were "catching their breath after an eventful week," said Charles Schwab analyst Joe Mazzola.
"The market heads into the final week of the first quarter buoyed by optimism over the economy and renewed confidence the Federal Reserve will embark on a rate-cutting cycle later this year," he said.
London, which has lagged behind most major markets so far this year, was the strongest major market Friday, with the FTSE 100 index closing up 0.6 percent.
It had gained almost two percent Thursday as the Bank of England signalled it could start cutting interest rates over the UK summer.
"The FTSE 100 is benefitting more than the other indices because it was cheap," said Kathleen Brooks, an analyst at XTB.com.
"This shift in rate cut expectations from the BOE is like a red flag to a bull, and markets have rallied sharply," she said.
- 'Some second-guessing' -
The Swiss National Bank on Thursday became the first major central bank to cut rates aimed at combating soaring inflation, and was followed later in the day by the bank of Mexico.
Equities across the world had surged Thursday in response to the Federal Reserve's closely watched projections that it would lower borrowing costs three times this year, even after figures showed prices ticking up in January and February.
"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," said Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management.
Apple clawed back some ground Friday after being walloped Thursday when US regulators said they were opening antitrust proceedings against the company for how it limits competition in the iPhone ecosystem.
Nike slumped more than seven percent after sales in China slipped, even as it made waves by signing a sponsorship deal with the German national football team, who had been outfitted by Adidas since the 1950s.
Adidas shares were up half a percent, largely in line with the wider Frankfurt market, which was lifted by a key survey showing 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.
Oil prices fell as the United States pressured Ukraine to stop firing missiles at Russian refineries, which had caused oil prices to rise earlier in the week.
- Key figures around 1640 GMT -
New York - Dow: DOWN 0.5 percent at 39,775.11
New York - S&P 500: DOWN 0.1 percent at 5,234.06
New York - Nasdaq Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 16,409.52
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.6 percent at 7,930.92 points (close)
Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.3 percent at 8,151.92 (close)
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.2 percent at 18,205.94 (close)
EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.4 percent at 5,031.15 (close)
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 $1.2595 from $1.2653 on Thursday
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 151.41 yen from 151.65 yen
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0810 from $1.0861
Euro/pound: DOWN at 85.83 pence from 85.94 pence
Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.2 percent at $85.62 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.2 percent at $80.89 per barrel
H.E.Young--AMWN