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- 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
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- 'Fight': defiant Trump jets in to site of rally shooting
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- Israel on alert ahead of Hamas attack anniversary
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- 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
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- 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
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- Liverpool stay top of Premier League as Arsenal, Man City win
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Stocks steady as traders mull interest rate outlooks
Stock markets largely steadied Monday with sentiment dominated by the outlook for interest rate rises as inflation soars.
A forecast-busting US jobs report Friday reinforced optimism that the world's top economy was well on the recovery track, but also ramped up expectations of an interest rate hike by the Fed in March.
It comes as surging global inflation resulted in the Bank of England last week hiking its main interest rate for a second meeting in a row, while the European Central Bank signalled that it may raise borrowing costs this year.
"There are plenty of reasons for investors to be cautious," said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
"Strong US jobs data last week might suggest the Fed pushes up rates faster and harder than currently expected. Ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Moscow also hang over markets."
With US inflation data this week tipped to show prices rising at a pace not seen in 40 years, traders are becoming increasingly anguished that Federal Reserve rate hike plans could jeopardise the recovery.
There is mounting talk that the US central bank will have to hike borrowing costs at least four times this year -- with some predicting as many as seven rises could occur.
Elsewhere Monday, oil prices retreated after European benchmark contract, Brent North Sea crude, hit $94 -- the highest level for more than seven years.
Expectations that energy demand will continue to improve as the world economy reopens, as well as a cold snap in the United States and uncertainty over the Russia-Ukraine stand-off are expected to keep crude futures well supported according to analysts.
Still, signs of a breakthrough in Iran nuclear talks could help staunch the surge, they added.
- Key figures around 1200 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.3 percent at 7,537.48 points
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.2 percent at 15,124.05
Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.1 percent at 6,942.35
EURO STOXX 50: FLAT at 4,085.22
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.7 percent at 27,248.87 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: FLAT at 24,579.55 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: UP 2.0 percent at 3,429.58 (close)
New York - Dow: DOWN 0.1 percent at 35,089.74 (close)
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1444 from $1.1453 Friday
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3514 from $1.3527
Euro/pound: UP at 84.68 pence from 84.65 pence
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 114.92 yen from 115.21 yen
Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.3 percent at $93.03 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.8 percent at $91.57 per barrel
O.M.Souza--AMWN