- Mozambique on edge as judges rule on disputed election
- Mobile cinema brings Tunisians big screen experience
- Philippines says to acquire US Typhon missile system
- Honda and Nissan to launch merger talks
- Police arrest suspect who set woman on fire in New York subway
- China vows 'cooperation' over ship linked to severed Baltic Sea cables
- Australian tennis star Purcell provisionally suspended for doping
- Asian markets track Wall St rally as US inflation eases rate fears
- Luxury Western goods line Russian stores, three years into sanctions
- Wallace and Gromit return with comic warning about AI dystopia
- Philippine military says will acquire US Typhon missile system
- Afghan bread, the humble centrepiece of every meal
- Honda and Nissan expected to begin merger talks
- 'Draconian' Vietnam internet law heightens free speech fears
- Israeli women mobilise against ultra-Orthodox military exemptions
- Asian markets track Wall St rally as US inflation eases rate worries
- Tens of thousands protest in Serbian capital over fatal train station accident
- Trump vows to 'stop transgender lunacy' as a top priority
- Daniels throws five TDs as Commanders down Eagles, Lions and Vikings win
- 'Who's next?': Misinformation and online threats after US CEO slaying
- Only 12 trucks delivered food, water in North Gaza Governorate since October: Oxfam
- InterContinental Hotels Group PLC Announces Transaction in Own Shares - December 23
- Melrose Group Publicly Files Complaint to the Ontario Securities Commission
- Langers edge Tiger and son Charlie in PNC Championship playoff
- Explosive batsman Jacobs gets New Zealand call-up for Sri Lanka series
- Holders PSG edge through on penalties in French Cup
- Slovak PM Fico on surprise visit to Kremlin to talk gas deliveries
- Daniels throw five TDs as Commanders down Eagles
- Atalanta fight back to take top spot in Serie A, Roma hit five
- Mancini admits regrets over leaving Italy for Saudi Arabia
- Run machine Ayub shines as Pakistan sweep South Africa
- Slovak PM Fico on surprise visit to Kremlin
- Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill 35
- 'Incredible' Liverpool must stay focused: Slot
- Maresca 'absolutely happy' as title-chasing Chelsea drop points in Everton draw
- Salah happy wherever career ends after inspiring Liverpool rout
- Three and easy as Dortmund move into Bundesliga top six
- Liverpool hit Spurs for six, Man Utd embarrassed by Bournemouth
- Netanyahu vows to act with 'force, determination' against Yemen's Huthis
- Mbappe back from 'bottom' as Real Madrid down Sevilla
- Ali hat-trick helps champions Ahly crush Belouizdad
- France kept on tenterhooks over new government
- Salah stars as rampant Liverpool hit Spurs for six
- Syria's new leader says all weapons to come under 'state control'
- 'Sonic 3' zips to top of N.America box office
- Rome's Trevi Fountain reopens to limited crowds
- Mbappe strikes as Real Madrid down Sevilla
- 'Nervous' Man Utd humiliated by Bournemouth
- Pope again condemns 'cruelty' of Israeli strikes on Gaza
- Lonely this Christmas: Vendee skippers in low-key celebrations on high seas
Wall Street rebounds, European stocks slump at end of volatile week
European stock markets ended a volatile week in the red of Friday, as investors weighed expectations of economic recovery against soaring inflation, rising interest rates and mixed earnings.
By contrast, Wall Street was in positive territory, and oil prices were steady.
The week has been dominated by investor concern that any possible interest rates by the US Federal Reserve -- as it seeks to rein in high inflation -- could choke off economic recovery following pandemic-induced lockdowns.
The European Central Bank, for its part, appears to be sitting tight for the time being, causing the euro to fall to a 19-month low against the dollar on Friday.
Rising tensions between Russia and the West over the Ukraine crisis have wiped around $7 trillion off stock market valuations across the globe so far this month.
"Downbeat mood rounds up a volatile week for markets," said Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor.
Wall Street was nevertheless in the black, with the tech-heavy NASDAQ rising by 1.4 percent after Apple unveiled record revenues.
Nevertheless, "inflation and tightening concerns exacerbated by surging oil prices and a hawkish Federal Reserve" continued to weigh on sentiment, said ThinkMarkets analyst, Fawad Razaqzada.
In Europe, Frankfurt and Paris ended the day in the red, even though France posted its strongest economist in more than 50 years, while German growth data disappointed.
The German economy shrank by 0.7 percent in the fourth quarter, but expanded by 2.8 percent over the year as a whole, the data showed, while in neighbouring France, economic growth reached seven percent.
In the US, inflation picked up to 4.9 percent in December from 4.7 percent in November.
"The consumer inflation rate is at a near 40-year high, wage pressures are building, supply chains are still tangled, oil prices are at a seven-year high, and more and more companies are talking about ongoing cost pressures," said Patrick O'Hare at Briefing.com.
While stock markets have rallied for the best part of two years, analysts said a hefty pullback can be expected, as investors take profit and central banks roll back massive pandemic-era stimulus.
Crude oil prices remained well-supported after a strong trading week, aided by the Ukraine-Russia crisis, with Brent rising above $91 per barrel.
"Russia's supply of natural gas to Western Europe could further spark volatility across financial markets, and as we turn the corner on the pandemic we now see a possible conflict as one of the biggest threats to markets in 2022," warned Federated Hermes analyst, Lewis Grant.
- Key figures around 1650 GMT -
New York - Dow: UP 0.2 percent at 34,227.14 points
London - FTSE 100: DOWN 1.1 percent at 7,466.07 (close)
Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.5 percent at 15,356.16 (close)
Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.8 percent at 6,965.88 (close)
EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 1.1 percent at 4,137.74
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 2.1 percent at 26,717.34 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.1 percent at 23,550.08 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 1.0 percent at 3,361.44 (close)
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1165 from $1.1147
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3413 from $1.3381
Euro/pound: DOWN at 83.24 pence from 83.27 pence
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 115.19 yen from 115.36 yen
Brent North Sea crude: UP 0.6 percent at $90.61 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.6 percent at $88.02 per barrel
burs-rl/cdw/spm
L.Mason--AMWN