- Sabalenka targets world number one and Wuhan hat-trick
- Toddler among 4 dead in migrant Channel crossings
- Tunisia votes with Saied set for re-election
- Bagnaia sets 'example' with Japan MotoGP win to cut gap on Martin
- Intense Israeli bombing rocks Beirut ahead of war anniversary
- Mozambique vote: no suspense but some disillusion
- Austrian rapper channels anti-racist rage in Romani hip-hop songs
- Ohtani magic powers Dodgers over Padres in MLB playoff thriller
- Five of the best: Pakistan-England Test thrillers
- Man sets arm on fire as marches across US mark Gaza war anniversary
- Vietnam's young coffee entrepreneurs brew up a revolution
- Trump rallies at site of failed assassination: 'Never quit'
- Too hot by day, Dubai's floodlit beaches are packed at night
- Is music finally reckoning with #MeToo?
- 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
Stocks rise as traders eye rate hikes, Ukraine
Stock markets in the United States and Europe mostly rose Monday as investors track corporate earnings, expected interest rate hikes and the standoff over Ukraine.
Wall Street was mixed in early trading, with the Dow slightly lower while the NASDAQ and S&P 500 were up.
In Europe, the London FTSE 100, Frankfurt DAX and Paris CAC 40 were up at least half a point in afternoon trading.
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 US Federal Reserve 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 for the first time that it may raise borrowing costs this year.
"Volatility is likely to continue as the global markets adjust to the prospect of tighter monetary policies, as well as geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine, and a mixed Q4 (fourth quarter) earnings season, which will continue to roll on this week," investment bank Charles Schwab said in a note.
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.
- 'Worst appears behind us' -
Craig Erlam at trading platform OANDA said investors have already prepared for potential rate increases.
"And with so much now priced in -- of course, there's always room for more -- we could see investors taking some comfort from the fact that the worst appears to be behind us," he said.
On the geopolitical front, investors are nervous over Western fears that Russia plans to invade Ukraine.
Investors are also watching for more corporate earnings statements this week after a disappointing report from Facebook parent Meta last week caused the company's shares to sink, dragging markets along.
Elsewhere Monday, oil prices continued their retreat after European benchmark contract, Brent North Sea crude, hit $94 -- the highest level for more than seven years.
"Oil prices are a little flat at the start of the week with the rally losing a little momentum after nuclear talks between the US and Iran appeared to make positive progress," Erlam said.
But the continued reopening of the world economy 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.
- Key figures around 1430 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.7 percent at 7566.06 points
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.6 percent at 15191.47
Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.5 percent at 6985.99
EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.7 percent at 4,113.14
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 35062.41 percent
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1431 from $1.1453 Friday
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3514 from $1.3527
Euro/pound: DOWN at 84.58 pence from 84.65 pence
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 115.08 from 115.21 yen
Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.54 percent at $92.77 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.16 percent at $91.24 per barrel
P.Costa--AMWN