- 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'
- China economy hopes boost global equities
- Ubisoft shares sink after 'Assassin's Creed' delay
- German economy to shrink again in 2024: think tanks
- Hong Kong's New World Development replaces CEO Adrian Cheng
- Swiss central bank cuts rate again amid strong franc worries
- Germany's BASF to focus on 'core units' in major overhaul
- China admits economy facing new 'problems', vows to fix property sector
- Stock markets boosted by China hopes, tech rally
- Bangladesh revolution sparks new hopes among Rohingya
China economy hopes boost global equities
Chinese stocks surged and major European indices mostly rallied Thursday as China signalled further stimulus measures aimed at lifting the world's second-biggest economy out of the doldrums.
Hong Kong closed up 4.2 percent and Shanghai finished with a gain of 3.6 percent, extending the week's strong gains as a slew of bold measures from Beijing suggested leaders were listening to calls to reinvigorate growth.
On Thursday, China's President Xi Jinping admitted that the country was facing new economic "problems" and pledged to ramp up employment and fix its troubled property sector.
"After months of market anticipation, the Chinese authorities are finally acknowledging the significant amount of work needed to relaunch the world's second-largest economy," said market strategist Patrick Munnelly at traders Tickmill Group.
Bloomberg reported Chinese leaders were also considering pumping more than $140 billion into its large state-run banks.
The Paris stock market led the way in Europe, gaining 1.5 percent nearing the half-way mark. Luxury fashion stocks topped the CAC 40, boosted by hopes of rebounding demand from China.
Shares in Gucci-owner Kering jumped eight percent, while LVMH and Hermes won seven percent.
London's FTSE 100 index rose by only 0.2 percent, with gains capped by heavy losses to energy majors BP and Shell.
Crude oil prices slid more than two percent on expectations of higher output in Saudi Arabia and Libya, according to analysts.
The Frankfurt stock market climbed 1.2 percent despite an announcement Thursday by leading economic institutes that the German economy will have shrunk this year.
Global equity gains were supported by a tech surge following a strong earnings outlook from US chip giant Micron and as South Korean behemoth SK hynix said it had started mass production of a more advanced artificial-intelligence chip.
Tech shares have been the main driver of a surge in global markets this year as demand for all things AI heats up.
There were also big gains for Samsung and Japan's Sony, while e-commerce titan Alibaba and JD.com joined the tech surge in Hong Kong.
Shares in French video game maker Ubisoft sank nearly 20 percent after it dropped its profit targets following a delay to its latest "Assassin's Creed" title.
Attention is turning to Friday's release of US personal consumption expenditure figures -- the Federal Reserve's preferred gauge of inflation.
Debate is swirling on the Fed's next move after it last week cut interest rates by 50 basis points.
Analysts said further easing in the PCE could boost the chances of another big move, which is weighing on the dollar and boosting metals priced in the currency.
Gold hit yet another new peak, above $2,680 an ounce, while sister metal silver reached the highest level since late 2012.
The Swiss franc, meanwhile, gained against the dollar and euro despite a Swiss central bank rate cut that was in part aimed at containing its rise.
- Key figures around 1100 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.2 percent at 8,283.14 points
Paris - CAC 40: UP 1.5 percent at 7,680.41
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 1.2 percent at 19,135.41
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 2.8 percent at 38,925.63 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 4.2 percent at 19,924.58 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: UP 3.6 percent at 3,000.95 (close)
New York - Dow: DOWN 0.7 percent at 41,914.75 (close)
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1158 from $1.1130 on Wednesday
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3382 from $1.3317
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 144.37 yen from 144.81 yen
Euro/pound: DOWN at 83.40 pence from 83.54 pence
Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 2.4 percent at $71.70 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 2.1 percent at $68.20 per barrel
U.Ndiaye--CPN