- Russian activist killed on front line in Ukraine
- Openda strike briefly sends Leipzig top of Bundesliga
- Goal-shy Man Utd have to 'step up', says Ten Hag
- India bowl out Bangladesh for 127 in T20 opener
- Madueke rescues Chelsea in draw with 10-man Forest
- Beckett's belief rewarded as Bluestocking storms to Arc glory
- Trump on the stump, Harris hits airwaves in razor-edge US election
- Flash flooding kills three in northern Thailand
- Kaur leads India to victory over Pakistan in Women's T20 World Cup
- Juventus held by Cagliari after late penalty drama
- In France's Marseille, teen 'stabbed 50 times' then burned alive
- Ruthless Gauff beats Muchova in straight sets to win China Open
- India restrict Pakistan to 105-8 in Women's T20 World Cup
- England target repeat of Pakistan Test whitewash
- Penrith Panthers win fourth straight NRL title after downing Storm
- Weary Sinner happy for day off after battling into Shanghai last 16
- Pakistan's Masood warns England still a force without Stokes
- Madrid's Carvajal to miss several months after serious knee injury
- Israel pounds Lebanon ahead of Hamas attack anniversary
- Two elephants die in flash flooding in northern Thailand
- 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
European stocks steady after Ukraine-induced volatility
European stock markets steadied Wednesday after a volatile start to the trading week, as investors tracked developments surrounding the Ukraine crisis.
Asian stock markets mirrored strong rebounds on Wall Street and across Europe seen Tuesday on hopes Russia would not invade Ukraine after Moscow said some of its troops on the countries' border were pulling back.
"The withdrawal of some Russian troops seems to have been accompanied by comments that the door remained open for diplomatic discussions, which was sufficient to prompt a relief rally," noted Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor.
"On the other hand, the current elevated level of inflation remains a real concern."
UK annual inflation has hit the highest level since 1992, official data showed Wednesday, adding pressure to the cost of living and on the Bank of England to keep raising rates.
The prospect of higher BoE borrowing costs lent some support to the pound.
Global inflation has reached heights not seen in decades, largely owing to a surge in energy prices as economies reopen from pandemic lockdowns.
World oil prices this week struck the highest levels since 2014, as investors grow increasingly worried about energy supplies in the event of a war between major producer Russia and Ukraine.
Crude futures were back on the rise again Wednesday after tumbling Tuesday on easing conflict fears.
Observers have warned that oil could soon break above $100 per barrel.
"Volatility and uncertainty is just going to be heightened. That can be due to Russia-Ukraine, it could be due to stubborn inflation," Brenda O'Connor Juanas at UBS told Bloomberg Television.
US producer prices rose twice as much as expected in January, firming expectations that the Federal Reserve will from next month begin a series of US interest rate hikes.
"Americans expect inflation to eventually ease next year, but they are growing nervous the peak could be far worse than they initially expected," said Edward Moya, analyst at Oanda trading group.
Investors are awaiting the release of minutes from the Fed's January policy meeting, hoping it will provide clues about the pace and timing of rate hikes.
While the European Central Bank is sitting tight for now, it should start thinking about gradually withdrawing economic stimulus measures, as the risk of acting "too late" against soaring inflation grows, an ECB policymaker has told the Financial Times.
The comments late Tuesday by Isabel Schnabel, a member of the ECB's executive board, comes as the eurozone experiences record-high annual inflation at 5.1 percent.
- Key figures around 1200 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.2 percent at 7,592.64 points
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.1 percent at 15,430.84
Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.1 percent at 6,984.97
EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.2 percent at 4,151.22
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 2.2 percent at 27,460.40 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 1.3 percent at 24,675.63 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.6 percent at 3,456.83 (close)
New York - Dow: UP 1.2 percent at 34,988.84 (close)
Brent North Sea crude: UP 1.5 percent at $94.65 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.0 percent at $93.03 per barrel
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1386 from $1.1361 late Tuesday
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3566 from $1.3541
Euro/pound: UP at 83.93 pence from 83.88 pence
Dollar/yen: UP at 115.67 yen from 115.62 yen
S.F.Warren--AMWN