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- Buried Nazi past haunts Athens on liberation anniversary
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- Nobel prize a timely reminder, Hiroshima locals say
- China offers $325 bn in fiscal stimulus for ailing economy
- Small Quebec company dominates one part of NHL hockey: jerseys
- Boeing to cut 10% of workforce as it sees big Q3 loss
- Want to film in Paris? No sexism allowed
- US, European markets rise as investors weigh rates, earnings
- In Colombia, children trade plastic waste for school supplies
- JPMorgan Chase profits top estimates, bank sees 'resilient' US economy
- Little progress at key meet ahead of COP29 climate summit
- 'Party atmosphere': Skygazers treated to another aurora show
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- European Mediterranean states discuss Middle East, migration
- Thunberg leads pro-Palestinian, climate protest in Milan
- Stock markets diverge before China weekend briefing
- EU questions shopping app Temu over illegal products risk
- Han Kang's books sell out in South Korea after Nobel win
- Shanghai markets sink ahead of briefing on mixed day for Asia
- Investors, analysts eye bigger China stimulus at Saturday briefing
- Musk unveils robotaxi, pledges it 'before 2027'
- At least 11 dead in Florida but Hurricane Milton not as bad as feared
- Asian markets mixed after Wall St drop, Shanghai dips before briefing
- Automaker Stellantis says CEO will retire in 2026
- Musk's promised robotaxi unveil delayed
- On US coast, wind power foes embrace 'Save the Whales' argument
- At least 10 dead in Florida after Hurricane Milton spawns tornadoes
- Internet Archive reels from 'catastrophic' cyberattack, data breach
- Wall Street stocks retreat from records on US inflation data
- Israel strikes central Beirut, killing 22
- Solar storm could impact US hurricane recovery efforts: agency
- Delta eyes Election Day travel pullback as profits climb
- Florida battered by hurricane, floods but spared 'worst-case scenario'
- UK's William and Kate in first joint public engagement since cancer treatment
- Over 200 women in legal talks with Harrods over Fayed abuse claims
- A very stiff breeze: BBC says sorry for 20,000 kph wind forecast
- Musk finally unveiling his long-promised robotaxi
- London's Frieze art fair goes potty for ceramics
- US, Europe stocks fall on US inflation data
- US consumer inflation eases to 2.4% in September
- Hurricane Milton tornadoes kill four in Florida amid rescue efforts
- South Korea's Han Kang wins literature Nobel
- Ikea posts fall in annual sales after lowering prices
- Stock markets diverge, oil gains after China rebounds
- World can't 'waste time' trading climate change blame: COP29 hosts
- South Korean same-sex couples make push for marriage equality
- Mumbai declares day of mourning for Indian industrialist Ratan Tata
- 7-Eleven owner restructures to fight takeover
Europe stocks waver after recession-driven losses elsewhere
Europe's main stock markets wavered on Friday, as dealers digested mixed data and paused after losses elsewhere that were rooted in global recession fears.
Frankfurt and Paris stocks slid as purchasing managers' index (PMI) survey data showed eurozone business activity growth accelerated in April on the buoyant services sector -- but manufacturing shrank.
London, however, edged higher as investors eyed rebounding UK business activity despite sliding retail sales.
"There was a consistent theme across today's euro-area PMIs. Activity levels surged in the services sector due to a robust demand backdrop, while manufacturing activity continued to contract," said Monex Europe analyst Simon Harvey.
The dollar rose against the euro after Federal Reserve officials pressed their case for further rate hikes to battle stubborn inflation.
Asian stock indices closed lower on fears of a prolonged downturn after data indicated the US economy was slowing down.
Wall Street tech firms took a hit Thursday from bets on further monetary tightening, while carmakers tumbled due to concerns about a possible price war.
Investors were also spooked by earnings reports from US regional banks that pointed to a weakening profit outlook following sector turmoil last month that saw three lenders collapse.
Figures showing recurring unemployment benefit claims hitting their highest level since November 2021, combined with an increase in new applications for jobless insurance, pointed to a softening labour market.
That came with news that the closely watched Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index fell more than expected and stood in contrast to a surprise surge in the New York Empire Fed Survey on Monday.
The readings indicated the world's top economy was beginning to feel the weight of a year-long rate hike campaign by the Fed.
But while that suggests inflation could come down, there is a growing worry that recession could be coming.
- Fed expectations -
While traders are keeping close tabs on the release of corporate earnings, their attention is turning to next month's Fed rate decision.
The broad expectation is for another 25-basis-point hike.
However, debate surrounds whether the Fed will lift again in June or decide to pause, particularly in light of last month's banking scare, which was widely regarded as a result of monetary tightening.
On Thursday, Philadelphia Fed chief Patrick Harker said in prepared remarks that "some additional tightening may be needed to ensure policy is restrictive enough" to support the Fed's dual mandate of keeping both unemployment and inflation low.
- Key figures around 1045 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 7,906.91 points
Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.4 percent at 15,730.79
Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.1 percent at 7,532.16
EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.2 percent at 4,374.85
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.3 percent at 28,564.37 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.6 percent at 20,075.73 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 2.0 percent at 3,301.26 (close)
New York - Dow: DOWN 0.3 percent at 33,786.62 (close)
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0964 from $1.0970 on Thursday
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2385 from $1.2443
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 133.70 yen from 134.24 yen
Euro/pound: UP at 88.57 pence from 88.16 pence
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.2 percent at $77.25 per barrel
Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.1 percent at $81.03 per barrel
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C.Peyronnet--CPN