- Germany into Nations League quarters, France and Italy win
- Nagelsmann lauds 'supercharged' Germany's 'best half of the year'
- 'Pandas are coming': Two new bears depart China for US capital
- Dodgers pitcher Kershaw plans to return for 2025
- Mbappe 'investigated for rape' in Sweden: report
- Revived Italy sweep past Israel in Nations League amid high security
- Trudeau slams India as tensions soar over Sikh separatist's murder
- Harris courts Black voters as Trump makes inroads
- Wall Street stocks hit fresh records as oil prices slide
- Nigerian team return home after boycotting AFCON qualifier in Libya
- Nigeria refuse to play in Libya as Algeria, Cameroon qualify
- Strike-hit Boeing leaves experts puzzled by strategy
- Leweling rockets Germany past Dutch and into Nations League quarterfinals
- Kolo Muani double fires France to win in Belgium
- Italy sweep past Israel in Nations League amid high security
- UN peacekeepers to 'stay in all positions' in Lebanon
- NASA launches probe to study if life possible on icy Jupiter moon
- 'Unique' Ronaldo an example to everyone, says Martinez
- New lawsuits against Sean Combs allege sex assault, including of minor
- Italy begins migrant transfers to Albania with first group of 16
- Google signs nuclear power deal with startup Kairos
- Carsley open to foreign England manager amid Guardiola links
- Pogba hungry to have his football cake after doping ban
- India and Canada expel top envoys in Sikh separatist killing row
- Mbappe says victim of 'fake news' after 'rape' report in Sweden
- Lebanon says 21 killed in strike on northern village
- Netanyahu vows no mercy after deadly Hezbollah drone strike
- Russia could be able to attack NATO by 2030: German intelligence
- EVs seek to regain sales momentum at Paris Motor Show
- Clarke backs Scotland to bounce back from 'tough' run
- Harris, Trump target crucial Pennsylvania as US vote looms
- NASA probe Europa Clipper lifts off for Jupiter's icy moon
- Lebanese Red Cross says 18 killed in strike in north
- Mendy borrowed money from Man City team-mates for legal fees
- Palestinian officials say Israeli forces kill two in West Bank
- Football leagues, unions file EU complaint against FIFA in calendar dispute
- Nigeria boycott AFCON qualifier in Libya after 'inhumane treatment'
- India to recall top envoy to Canada: foreign ministry
- Hezbollah, Israeli troops in 'violent clashes' after drone strike
- China insists won't renounce 'use of force' to take Taiwan as drills end
- Painkiller sale plan to US gives France major headache
- Italy begins landmark migrant transfers to Albania
- Russia jails French researcher for three years
- 'Unsustainable' housing crisis bedevils Spain's socialist govt
- Stocks shrug off China disappointment but oil slides
- New Zealand 4-0 up in America's Cup but British show signs of life
- Russian prosecutor demands 3 years prison for French researcher
- 'Innocent' British nerve agent victim caught in global murder plot: inquiry
- Afghan Taliban vow to implement media ban on images of living things
- Russian prosecutor demands 3 years, 3 months jail for French researcher
Stocks and oil rally as rate-hike worries ebb
Global stock markets and oil prices jumped higher on Friday following recent heavy losses as the weakening economic outlook moderates expectations about central bank monetary tightening.
With a spate of data pointing to an economic slowdown, market watchers said investors now believe central banks may need to deal out less punishing interest rate hikes, and thus the pushing of equity markets into bear market territory may have been an overreach.
The broad-based S&P 500 added 3.1 percent to stand at 3,911.74 at the end of Friday's session, up almost 6.5 percent for the week in one of the best seven-day stretches in an otherwise downcast 2022.
Earlier, London stocks rallied 2.7 percent with investors brushing aside news of bruising defeats for Britain's ruling Conservatives in by-elections on Thursday.
The pound firmed against the dollar, despite data showing a drop in UK retail sales volumes as inflation soars.
Paris stocks jumped 3.2 percent in eurozone trade, while Frankfurt rose 1.6 percent with gains tempered by news of the worsening German business climate.
"Stock markets are taking a breather after being beat up... as recession fears took their toll," OANDA trading platform analyst Craig Erlam told AFP.
But he warned that stock markets remain "vulnerable to another onslaught if the news does not improve".
Asian stock markets closed higher after Thursday's gains on Wall Street.
The recoveries come after global markets have been thrown into turmoil for months owing to soaring inflation, interest-rate hikes, the Ukraine war and China lockdowns.
US equity markets tumbled into bear market territory -- a drop of more than 20 percent from recent highs -- as the US Federal Reserve began to aggressively raise interest rates.
Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell this week told lawmakers a recession was "certainly a possibility".
Sentiment in Asia has meanwhile been boosted by comments from Chinese President Xi Jinping suggesting an end to China's tech crackdown as well as possible new measures aimed at lifting the economy.
Hong Kong shares were among the biggest winners Friday thanks to a rally in tech giants including Alibaba, Tencent and NetEase.
Analysts have been pointing to falling commodity prices, a primary driver of inflation, in the face of a possible recession reducing the need for sharp interest rate hikes as one possible explanation for the renewed bullish sentiment on equity markets.
- Key figures at around 2020 GMT -
New York - Dow: UP 2.7 percent at 31,500.68 (close)
New York - S&P 500: UP 3.1 percent at 3,911.74 (close)
New York - Nasdaq: UP 3.3 percent at 11,607.62 (close)
London - FTSE 100: UP 2.7 percent at 7,208.81 (close)
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 1.6 percent at 13,118.13 (close)
Paris - CAC 40: UP 3.2 percent at 6,073.35 (close)
EURO STOXX 50: UP 2.8 percent at 3,533.17 (close)
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.2 percent at 26,491.97 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 2.1 percent at 21,719.06 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.9 percent at 3,349.75 (close)
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0559 from $1.0523 late Thursday
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2280 from $1.2260
Euro/pound: UP at 85.95 pence from 85.83 pence
Dollar/yen: UP at 135.17 yen from 134.95 yen
Brent North Sea crude: UP 2.8 percent at $113.12 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: UP 3.2 percent at $107.62 per barrel
burs-jmb/bgs
B.Finley--AMWN