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- '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
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- 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
- Germany pledges security inquest into Christmas market attack
- Death toll in Brazil bus crash rises to 41
Markets diverge as China economic pledges disappoint
Stock markets diverged Friday as traders were disappointed by China's latest boosts to its beleaguered economy and looked ahead to a key US Federal Reserve meeting next week.
A tepid week was on course for a damp finish, with Wall Street offering a negative lead after fresh data pointing to a pick-up in inflation.
Hong Kong and Shanghai both tumbled as investors shrugged at Beijing's pledge to introduce measures aimed at "lifting consumption vigorously" as part of a drive to reignite growth in the world's number two economy.
President Xi Jinping and other key leaders said at the annual Central Economic Work Conference they would implement a "moderately loose" monetary policy, increase social financing and reduce interest rates "at the right time".
The gathering came after Beijing began unveiling in September a raft of policies to reverse a growth slump that has gripped the economy for almost two years.
"We're still not convinced that policy support will prevent the economy from slowing further next year", said Julian Evans-Pritchard, head of China economics at research group Capital Economics.
European markets fared better following interest rate cuts the day prior by the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Swiss central bank.
Paris stocks rose with French President Emmanuel Macron set to name the new prime minister Friday, after days of deadlock over finding a candidate to replace the ousted Michel Barnier.
Frankfurt also gained, despite the German central bank sharply downgrading its growth forecasts on Friday for 2025 and 2026 as it predicted a prolonged period of weakness for Europe's biggest economy.
London stocks edged up and the pound dropped after official data showed that the UK economy unexpectedly shrank for the second consecutive month in October.
The euro was stuck around two-year lows against the dollar after ECB president Christine Lagarde warned the eurozone economy was "losing momentum", cautioning that "the risk of greater friction in global trade could weigh on euro area growth".
All three main indexes in New York closed in the red, ahead of the Fed's meeting next week, when it is tipped to cut borrowing costs for the third time.
"While the markets still anticipate a rate cut from the Federal Reserve next week, the likelihood of a move in January has dropped," said Patrick Munnelly, partner at broker Tickmill Group.
There is growing concern over inflationary pressures of president-elect Donald Trump's pledges to cut taxes and impose tariffs as inflation still stands above the bank's target.
Shares fell in Tokyo even as the Bank of Japan's closely watched Tankan survey indicated a slight increase in confidence among Japan's major manufacturers.
Seoul extended to four days a rebound from the selling sparked by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief martial law declaration, as the focus there turns to a second impeachment vote planned for Saturday.
The advance helped the Kospi briefly rise back above the level it sat at before Yoon's December 3 shock.
- Key figures around 1100 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 8,319.69 points
Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.4 percent at 7,449.73
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.4 percent at 20,499.07
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.0 percent at 39,470.44 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 2.1 percent at 19,971.24 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 2.0 percent at 3,391.88 (close)
New York - Dow: DOWN 0.5 percent 43,014.12 (close)
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0488 from $1.0468 on Thursday
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2652 from $1.2669
Dollar/yen: UP at 153.49 yen from 152.68 yen
Euro/pound: UP at 82.91 pence from 82.59 pence
Brent North Sea Crude: UP 1.1 percent at $74.23 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.2 percent at $70.86 per barrel
C.Garcia--AMWN