- 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
- Troubled Man Utd humiliated by Bournemouth
- 2 US pilots shot down over Red Sea in 'friendly fire' incident: military
- Man Utd embarrassed by Bournemouth, Chelsea held at Everton
- France awaits fourth government of the year
European stocks rise after surprise Swiss rate cut
European stock markets rose Thursday as the Swiss central bank made a bigger-than-forecast interest rate cut before eurozone policymakers are expected to trim the bloc's own borrowing costs again.
The Swiss National Bank surprised markets with a 50-basis-point reduction in its rate, citing slowing inflation and "uncertainty" over the global economy due to future US policies and political turmoil in Europe.
The franc fell against the dollar and the euro following the announcement.
The European Central Bank (ECB) is widely expected to cut its interest rates by 25 basis points, marking its third consecutive reduction.
However, recent worse-than-expected data has fuelled speculation that the ECB could soon deliver its own half-percentage-point cut.
The decision comes "in the face of a eurozone economy which is teetering on the brink of a recession", said Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell.
"The rumbling political crises in France and Germany only add to the tricky backdrop," he added.
Paris stocks edged up slightly, as France's President Emmanuel Macron fights to appoint a new prime minister following the removal of Michel Barnier last week.
Germany, meanwhile, is heading towards early elections in February following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition government as Europe's biggest economy falters.
Investors are also focused on the US Federal Reserve's own interest rate decision next week, with inflation data on Wednesday cemeting forecasts of another cut.
On Wall Street on Wednesday, the Nasdaq ended above 20,000 points for the first time, while the S&P 500 was a whisker away from its own record.
"US markets had their best day since the election, with tech stocks stealing the spotlight after inflation data practically locked in a rate cut," said Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.
There are concerns, however, that measures pledged by US president-elect Donald Trump to slash taxes and regulations and ramp up tariffs could reignite price increase.
In Asia, Hong Kong and Shanghai rallied amid hopes that leaders in China will unveil more help for the economy, which is struggling under the weight of weak consumer spending and a chronic property crisis.
President Xi Jinping and other key officials were reportedly holding their Central Economic Work Conference to hash out plans to boost growth next year.
Meanwhile, it emerged that economic officials in outgoing US President Joe Biden's administration would meet their Chinese counterparts for talks on Thursday in a final effort to strengthen ties before Trump returns.
Tokyo gained more than one percent on a weaker yen.
Seoul's Kospi pushed higher for a third straight day, eating further into the losses sustained in a sell-off that came in the wake of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law declaration.
The won continues to hover around two-year lows of 1,430 per dollar amid the uncertainty ahead of a second impeachment vote on Yoon at the weekend after the first fell short.
- Key figures around 1100 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.3 at 8,324.23 points
Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.1 percent at 7,429.12
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.1 percent at 20,409.61
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.2 percent at 39,849.14 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 1.2 percent at 20,397.05 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.9 percent at 3,461.50 (close)
New York - Dow: DOWN 0.2 percent at 44,148.56 (close)
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0500 from $1.0498 on Wednesday
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2743 from $1.2752
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 152.33 yen from 152.40 yen
Euro/pound: UP at 82.40 from 82.31 pence
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.1 percent at $70.24 per barrel
Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.1 percent at $73.46 per barrel
T.Ward--AMWN