- 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
World stock markets rally as Ukraine peace talks resume
Stock markets mostly rallied Tuesday on investor optimism as the latest peace talks kicked off between Ukraine and Russia.
Sentiment was boosted as face-to-face discussions began in Istanbul to try and end the nearly five-week-old war which has killed an estimated 20,000 people.
Shanghai stocks however fell one day after China's biggest city and financial hub of 25 million people was placed back in lockdown.
But oil prices rebounded slightly after tanking Monday on Chinese energy demand fears due to the new Covid-19 curbs and rising infections.
The yen firmed versus the dollar, one day after tumbling to a 2015 low on loose Japanese monetary policy.
- Hopes of 'tangible progress' -
Stocks climbed "on hopes the latest round of peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv might yield tangible progress", said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.
"Suggestions the Russian side are softening some of their previous demands raised spirits, but the market is unlikely to take anything for granted."
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.
Wall Street had also posted healthy gains Monday.
"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.
The yen had slumped Tuesday 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 1145 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: UP 1.3 percent at 7,570.24 points
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 2.0 percent at 14,711.81
Paris - CAC 40: UP 2.6 percent at 6,760.97
EURO STOXX 50: UP 2.5 percent at 3,982.71
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)
New York - DOW: UP 0.3 percent at 34,955.89 (close)
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1055 from $1.0985 late Monday
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3100 from $1.3088
Euro/pound: UP at 84.37 pence from 83.93 pence
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 123.46 yen from 123.86 yen
West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.7 percent at $106.73 per barrel
Brent North Sea crude: UP 1.2 percent at $113.80
A.Zimmermann--CPN