- Muslim women break taboos navigating east London's waterways
- Nepal dam-building spree powers electric vehicle boom
- More than 60 dead from storm Helene as rescue, cleanup efforts grow
- Dozens missing, 9 dead in migrant boat wreck off Spanish Canaries
- Death toll from Hurricane John hits eight in Mexico
- Storm Helene's toll rises as rescue and cleanup efforts gain pace
- SpaceX launches mission to return stranded astronauts
- Storm Helene kills 44, threatens more 'catastrophic' flooding as cleanup begins
- SpaceX set to launch mission to return stranded astronauts
- Storm Helene kills 44, threatens more 'catastrophic' flooding
- Boeing strike grinds on as latest talks fail to reach agreement
- Iran 'news' sites, hackers target Trump ahead of US election
- US ports brace for potential dockworkers strike
- Japan's speedy, spotless Shinkansen bullet trains turn 60
- US hurricane deaths rise to 44, fears of more 'catastrophic' flooding
- Global stocks mostly rise, cheering Beijing stimulus
- Europe en route for Moon with new simulator, says astronaut Pesquet
- Fireworks forecast if comet survives risky Sun flypast
- Argentina judge orders dictionary to delete pejorative definition of 'Jewish'
- Global stocks rise on rate hopes, Beijing stimulus
- S.African woman turns 118, among the oldest in the world
- UK clears $4 bn AI partnership between Amazon, Anthropic
- Barca fans barred from Champions League away game over racist banner
- Chinese stocks extend surge, Europe higher on Beijing stimulus
- Pope says Church must 'seek forgiveness' for child sexual abuse
- China caps week of 'bazooka' stimulus for ailing economy with rate cut
- Cuts, cash, credit: China bids to jumpstart flagging economy
- France's debt weighs heavier ahead of budget debate
- Iran treads carefully, backing Hezbollah while avoiding war
- Return to sender: waste stranded at sea stirs toxic dispute
- 'Broken' news industry faces uncertain future
- On remote Greek island, migratory birds offer climate clues
- Taken from mother by nuns, victim seeks answers as pope visits Belgium
- China cuts amount banks hold in reserve to boost lending
- Hong Kong, Shanghai extend surge as China optimism boosts markets
- Vietnam president reiterates support for Cuba during official visit
- Drought reduces Amazon River in Colombia by as much as 90%: report
- Stay or go? Pacific Islanders face climate's grim choice
- Florida bracing for 'unsurvivable' Hurricane Helene
- Poverty rises to over 52 percent in Milei's Argentina
- Chloe's see-through look may not be for Kamala Harris
- Champagne houses abuzz over English sparkling wine
- Macron, Trudeau pledge to work for 'decarbonized' economies
- Hurricanes, storms, typhoons... Is September wetter than usual?
- China stimulus, tech optimism boost stock markets
- 'Unsurvivable' Hurricane Helene races towards Florida
- Macron meets Trudeau in Canada as both face political setbacks
- South Korea surges in UN innovation index
- Chloe's see-through look may not be for Kamala
- Floods threaten Niger's historic 'gateway to the desert'
Stocks retreat as Russia downplays hopes of Biden-Putin summit
Stock markets mostly fell Monday as the Kremlin warned there were no firm plans for a summit between US President Joe Biden and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to avert a possible Moscow invasion of Ukraine.
Warnings from US officials that Russia could invade its neighbour imminently sent markets spiralling last week and briefly sent crude surging towards $100 per barrel as traders fret over already tight supplies.
The Ukraine crisis has compounded worries about decades-high inflation that is causing central banks to hike interest rates.
Asian and European equity markets mostly retreated Monday, though London managed to edge higher on hopes for the UK economy as Prime Minister Boris Johnson was set to announce an end to all pandemic legal curbs in England.
French flag-carrier Air France said it was cancelling its flights to and from Kyiv scheduled on Tuesday over security concerns sparked by the Russian troop build-up on Ukraine's border.
Air France, which runs return Paris to Kyiv flights also on Sundays said the move was a "precautionary measure".
The United States is "committed to pursuing diplomacy until the moment an invasion begins", Biden's press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday.
With Russia a key exporter of crude, all eyes are on oil prices, which steadied on Monday.
"A proposed summit does offer some relief to the market, as it suggests that both sides are still possibly open to dialogue," said Warren Patterson at ING Groep NV.
"Asset prices, particularly commodities, will continue to be heavily influenced by Russia-Ukraine noise."
Observers are warning that oil at $100 per barrel could soon be breached and could hold above that level for an extended period, even if talks on Iran's nuclear programme succeed and lead to the resumption of Tehran's crude exports.
The sharp rise in crude is a key driver of inflation across the planet, adding to supply chain snarls and bottlenecks.
While expectations are for a Fed rate hike next month, some bank officials at the weekend indicated they were not in favour of a 50 basis point rise, as has been suggested in light of soaring consumer prices.
The prospect of higher borrowing costs this year has weighed on markets for months, bringing a near two-year equity rally to an end with commentators predicting further volatility.
- Key figures around 1130 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 7,519.11 points
Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.3 percent at 14,995.03
Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.7 percent at 6,882.18
EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.7 percent at 4,045.90
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.8 percent at 26,910.87 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.7 percent at 24,170.07 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: FLAT at 3,490.61 (close)
New York - Dow: DOWN 0.7 percent at 34,079.18 (close)
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.3 percent at $89.94 per barrel
Brent North Sea crude: UP 0.1 percent at $93.66 per barrel
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1359 from $1.1323 Friday
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3627 from $1.3593
Euro/pound: UP at 83.36 pence from 83.30 pence
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 114.84 yen from 115.03 yen
Ch.Lefebvre--CPN