- Fans hail Trump's 'guts' as he returns to site of rally shooting
- Lebanon state media says 'very violent' Israeli strikes hit south Beirut
- Guardians maul Tigers, miracle Mets rally in MLB series openers
- Lebanon state media says Israeli strikes hit south Beirut
- Miami on track for MLS record points after win in Toronto
- Madrid beat Villarreal but Carvajal suffers knee injury
- Madrid beat Villarreal to move level with Liga leaders Barcelona
- Monaco take top spot in Ligue 1 with win at Rennes
- French rugby player on rape charge whistled but 'serene' on return
- Madrid beat Villarreal to level Liga leaders Barca
- Thuram treble fires Inter past Torino and up to second
- 'Fight': defiant Trump jets in to site of rally shooting
- Toddler among 3 dead in migrant Channel crossings
- Mexico City's new mayor sworn in with pledges on water, housing
- Israel on alert ahead of Hamas attack anniversary
- Guardians maul Tigers in MLB playoff series opener
- Macron criticises Israel on Gaza, Lebanon operations
- French rugby player whistled but 'serene' on return amid ongoing rape case
- Kovacic stars as Man City sink Fulham to get title bid back on track
- Retegui hat-trick fires five-star Atalanta to hammering of Genoa
- Heavyweights Australia, England off to World Cup winning starts
- Visiting UN refugee agency chief decries 'terrible crisis' in Lebanon
- Spinners come to party as England defeat Bangladesh at T20 World Cup
- Search continues for missing in deadly Bosnia floods
- Man City sink Fulham to get title bid back on track
- France's Auradou whistled on Pau return in Perpignan loss amid ongoing rape case
- A 'forgotten' valley in storm-hit North Carolina, desperate for help
- Arsenal hit back in style after Southampton scare
- Thousands march for Palestinians ahead of Oct 7 anniversary
- Hezbollah heir apparent Safieddine out of contact after strikes
- Liverpool stay top of Premier League as Arsenal, Man City win
- In dank Tour of Emilia, Pogacar shines in rainbow jersey
- DR Congo launches mpox vaccination drive, hoping to curb outbreak
- Trump returns to site of failed assassination
- Careless Leverkusen held to Bundesliga draw
- O'Brien's 'superstar' Kyprios posts landmark win on Arc weekend
- Toddler crushed to death in migrant Channel crossing
- Liverpool suffer Alisson injury blow
- Habosi helps Racing beat Vannes before Auradou's playing return
- Thousands march in London in support of Palestinians, 1 year after Oct 7
- Israel readying response to Iran missile attack
- Schutt, Mooney help Australia beat Sri Lanka in Women's T20 World Cup
- Liverpool extend Premier League lead with win at Palace
- Djokovic 'shakes rust off' to make third round of Shanghai Masters
- 'Imperfect' PSG fighting on all fronts - Luis Enrique
- Struggling Pakistan look to thwart adaptable England
- Child 'trampled to death' in asylum seekers' Channel crossing: minister
- Gauff fights back to set up Beijing final against Muchova
- Guardiola claims Premier League won't delay season for Man City
- Israel to mark October 7 attack as Gaza war spreads
China economy hopes boost global equities
Chinese stocks surged and major European indices mostly rallied Thursday as China signalled further stimulus measures aimed at lifting the world's second-biggest economy out of the doldrums.
Hong Kong closed up 4.2 percent and Shanghai finished with a gain of 3.6 percent, extending the week's strong gains as a slew of bold measures from Beijing suggested leaders were listening to calls to reinvigorate growth.
On Thursday, China's President Xi Jinping admitted that the country was facing new economic "problems" and pledged to ramp up employment and fix its troubled property sector.
"After months of market anticipation, the Chinese authorities are finally acknowledging the significant amount of work needed to relaunch the world's second-largest economy," said market strategist Patrick Munnelly at traders Tickmill Group.
Bloomberg reported Chinese leaders were also considering pumping more than $140 billion into its large state-run banks.
The Paris stock market led the way in Europe, gaining 1.5 percent nearing the half-way mark. Luxury fashion stocks topped the CAC 40, boosted by hopes of rebounding demand from China.
Shares in Gucci-owner Kering jumped eight percent, while LVMH and Hermes won seven percent.
London's FTSE 100 index rose by only 0.2 percent, with gains capped by heavy losses to energy majors BP and Shell.
Crude oil prices slid more than two percent on expectations of higher output in Saudi Arabia and Libya, according to analysts.
The Frankfurt stock market climbed 1.2 percent despite an announcement Thursday by leading economic institutes that the German economy will have shrunk this year.
Global equity gains were supported by a tech surge following a strong earnings outlook from US chip giant Micron and as South Korean behemoth SK hynix said it had started mass production of a more advanced artificial-intelligence chip.
Tech shares have been the main driver of a surge in global markets this year as demand for all things AI heats up.
There were also big gains for Samsung and Japan's Sony, while e-commerce titan Alibaba and JD.com joined the tech surge in Hong Kong.
Shares in French video game maker Ubisoft sank nearly 20 percent after it dropped its profit targets following a delay to its latest "Assassin's Creed" title.
Attention is turning to Friday's release of US personal consumption expenditure figures -- the Federal Reserve's preferred gauge of inflation.
Debate is swirling on the Fed's next move after it last week cut interest rates by 50 basis points.
Analysts said further easing in the PCE could boost the chances of another big move, which is weighing on the dollar and boosting metals priced in the currency.
Gold hit yet another new peak, above $2,680 an ounce, while sister metal silver reached the highest level since late 2012.
The Swiss franc, meanwhile, gained against the dollar and euro despite a Swiss central bank rate cut that was in part aimed at containing its rise.
- Key figures around 1100 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.2 percent at 8,283.14 points
Paris - CAC 40: UP 1.5 percent at 7,680.41
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 1.2 percent at 19,135.41
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 2.8 percent at 38,925.63 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 4.2 percent at 19,924.58 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: UP 3.6 percent at 3,000.95 (close)
New York - Dow: DOWN 0.7 percent at 41,914.75 (close)
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1158 from $1.1130 on Wednesday
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3382 from $1.3317
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 144.37 yen from 144.81 yen
Euro/pound: DOWN at 83.40 pence from 83.54 pence
Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 2.4 percent at $71.70 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 2.1 percent at $68.20 per barrel
G.Stevens--AMWN