- E.Guinea, Gabon clash at ICJ over oil-rich islands
- New blow for UK's Starmer as growth data disappoints
- China's top banks to tweak mortgage rates to boost housing market
- 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
Asian, European markets rise as ceasefire talks begin
Equities mostly rose Tuesday in Asia and Europe on optimism over talks between Ukraine and Russia aimed at ending their month-long war, while there was further support from another drop in oil prices.
While the conflict in eastern Europe continues to rage, traders have grown increasingly confident about shifting back into stocks as diplomats work to find a peaceful solution.
Analysts also said markets have been helped by the lack of any alternative investment for quality returns.
Focus is now on Istanbul, where officials from the warring parties began their first face-to-face talks since March 10, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urging them to "put an end to this tragedy".
"The whole world is waiting for good news from you," he added.
Vladimir Putin has called Moscow's military goals "demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine", as well as the imposition of neutral status on its ex-Soviet neighbour.
Neutrality and the future status of Donbas -- which has been occupied by Russia -- could be on the agenda, with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky admitting "it is impossible to liberate all territory by force, that would mean World War III, I fully understand and realise that".
But he stressed: "Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity are beyond doubt. Effective security guarantees for our state are mandatory."
Hopes that a way out could be found were boosted last week when senior Russian general Sergei Rudskoi appeared to scale back Moscow's campaign by saying the first phase of the war was over and the "main goal" was now on controlling Donbas.
All three main indexes on Wall Street posted healthy gains, and Asia followed suit.
Tokyo, Hong Kong, Sydney, Seoul, Mumbai, Taipei, Bangkok and Wellington rose, though Shanghai, Singapore, Manila and Jakarta dipped.
London, Paris and Frankfurt were sharply higher in the morning, while US futures were also on the front foot.
"A lot of negative news is already reflected in market pricing and investor positioning, and we still see upside in US equities for the rest of 2022," Solita Marcelli at UBS Global Wealth Management said.
And market strategist Louis Navellier added that "growth forecasts of both overall earnings and GDP remain positive for the next several quarters on the strength of the post-pandemic reopening".
Still, uncertainty remains rife on trading floors as soaring inflation ramps up expectations that the Federal Reserve will act increasingly more aggressive in tightening monetary policy.
That has sent Treasury yields rocketing, fuelling fears of a sharp economic slowdown.
There has been some respite for inflation expectations thanks to a sharp drop in oil prices, which has come on the back of a Covid lockdown in Shanghai, China's biggest city and financial hub of 25 million people.
The news sparked fears of a sharp drop-off in demand in the world's number two economy, sending both main contracts down about seven percent Monday. They edged up slightly on Tuesday.
OANDA's Jeffrey Halley said if there is a breakthrough in Ukraine talks "watch out for sub-$100 Brent, a mad rush into the euro and European equities, and a slump in the US dollar and gold.
"Asian equities should catch a nice tailwind as well."
On currency markets, the yen rose against the dollar but remains under pressure and around six-year lows after the Bank of Japan said it will buy 10-year government bonds to keep yields from running above its target.
The move reinforced the divergence between the BoJ and Fed as US officials battle to rein in inflation.
- Key figures around 0810 GMT -
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.1 percent at 28,252.42 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 1.1 percent at 21,927.63 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.3 percent at 3,203.94 (close)
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.7 percent at 7,525.61
West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.4 percent at $106.40 per barrel
Brent North Sea crude: UP 0.6 percent at $113.10 per barrel
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1002 from $1.0991 late Monday
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3090 from $1.3095
Euro/pound: UP at 84.05 pence from 83.91 pence
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 123.53 yen from 123.83 yen
New York - DOW: UP 0.3 percent at 34,955.89 (close)
P.Gonzales--CPN