- US hiring soars past expectations in sign of resilient market
- As EU targets Chinese cars, European rivals sputter
- Top EU court finds against FIFA in key transfer market ruling
- Oil extends gains, Hong Kong stocks resume rally
- 'A man provides': Ukrainian miners send families away as Russia advances
- EU states greenlight extra tariffs on EVs from China
- Hong Kong stocks resume rally, oil dips after Middle East-fuelled surge
- Crude stable after Israel-Iran surge, Hong Kong stocks resume gains
- Hera spacecraft to probe asteroid deflected by defence test
- US dockworkers to head back to work after tentative deal
- After Helene's destruction, North Carolina starts to rebuild
- Dockers end three-day strike at Montreal port
- What next for OpenAI after $157 billion bonanza?
- Israel-Hamas war causes 86-percent dive in Gaza GDP: IMF
- Milan's Morata moves house after Inter-fan town mayor 'violates' privacy
- 'Devastating' storm hits Augusta National but Masters will go on
- Relief in Brazil, Asia over delay to EU deforestation rules
- Oil prices jump, stocks fall on Middle East tensions
- Biden says 'discussing' possible Israeli strikes on Iran oil facilities
- Oil prices rise, stocks fall on Middle East tensions
- Oil rallies, stocks mostly retreat on Middle East tensions
- Phasing out teen smoking could save 1.2 mn lives: study
- 'Welcome relief': Asia producers hail EU deforestation law delay
- Japan PM slated to announce plans for 'happiness index'
- Turkish inflation falls less than expected in September at 49.4%
- Easing inflation lifts profit at UK supermarket Tesco
- Skiing calls on UN climate science to combat melting future
- China wine industry looks to breed climate resilience
- Tokyo rallies on weak yen, Hong Kong drops after surge
- Dutch airline KLM unveils 'firm' cost-cutting measures
- Carpe diem: the Costa Rican women turning fish into fashion
- Senegal looks to aquaculture as fish stocks dwindle
- Will AI one day win a Nobel Prize?
- Climate change, economics muddy West's drive to curb Chinese EVs
- Argentina's Milei vetoes university budget after huge protests
- TotalEnergies plans to grow oil and gas production until 2030
- 2024 Nobels offer glimmer of hope as global crises mount
- Tokyo rallies on weak yen, Hong Kong reverses after surge
- Tunisia readies for vote as incumbent Saied eyes victory
- High childcare costs in US weigh on women's employment
- US voters seek help with crushing childcare costs
- Taiwan shuts down for second day as Typhoon Krathon to land
- Supercharged storms: how climate change amplifies cyclones
- Biden official urges talks as US port strike enters second day
- Huge protests in Argentina over public university cuts
- Rally in oil prices loses steam on mixed day for global stocks
- South America treated to rare 'ring of fire' eclipse
- Biden official says port strike deal not as far as parties think
- Mexico's new president offers apology for 1968 student massacre
- Historic funding round values OpenAI at $157 billion
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Oil extends gains, Hong Kong stocks resume rally
Oil prices rose further Friday as tensions mount in the Middle East, while Hong Kong's stock markets resumed a rally caused by China's recently-announced measures to stimulate its economy.
Europe's main equity indices diverged nearing the half-way stage, with London weighed down by a rebounding pound alongside gains for Paris and Frankfurt.
The dollar was mixed against its main rivals as traders awaited key US jobs data due Friday that could give a clearer idea of the pace of planned interest-rate cuts from the Federal Reserve.
"Oil prices continued their ascent," noted Russ Mould, investment director at trading group AJ Bell, as Brent North Sea crude and the main US contract each gained about one percent.
"This is good news for oil producers but bad news for millions of companies and consumers as they face higher energy and transport costs," he added.
Buyers of company shares were back in the driving seat in Hong Kong, after a pause Thursday to the rally that started last week thanks to Beijing unveiling a raft of economy-boosting measures.
The stimulus -- mainly targeting the property sector -- has seen stocks in the city and mainland China enjoy a blistering run of more than 20 percent on hopes that Beijing can finally reignite growth.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index closed up almost three percent Friday, with tech firms leading the charge, while developers -- who have seen eye-watering gains over the past week -- fluctuated as investors awaited cues from China.
Mainland Chinese markets were closed for the Golden Week holiday.
There were also gains in Tokyo at the end of a rollercoaster week dictated by a volatile yen after the election of Shigeru Ishiba as prime minister.
"Investors are likely to remain on edge as they weigh the evolving monetary policy signals from Japan against shifting geopolitical developments," said ACY Securities currency analyst Luca Santos.
Attention was firmly on the oil market as tensions escalate in the crude-rich Middle East.
Israel bombarded south Beirut at least 10 times late Thursday, Lebanese sources said, after it launched its deadliest strike on the occupied West Bank in decades.
The escalating assaults by Israel come as it weighs retaliation for Iran's barrage of missiles fired at the country, with the United States saying Israel hitting Iranian oil facilities is on the table.
Iran said the attack was its response to the killing of Hassan Nasrallah, chief of its ally Hezbollah, and other top figures.
Crude prices rocketed around five percent Thursday when US President Joe Biden said he was "discussing" possible Israeli strikes on Iranian oil sites in retaliation for Tehran's barrage.
Meanwhile China's drive to reignite its vast economy has the potential to cause a surge in demand the oil, according to analysts.
- Key figures around 1000 GMT -
Brent North Sea Crude: UP 1.0 percent at $78.37 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.1 percent at $74.50 per barrel
London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.4 percent at 8,246.53 points
Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.4 percent at 7,510.60
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.2 percent at 19,045.58
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 2.8 percent at 22,736.87 (close)
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.2 percent at 38,635.62 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: Closed for a holiday
New York - Dow: DOWN 0.4 percent at 42,011.59 (close)
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3167 from $1.3124 on Thursday
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1027 from $1.1029
Euro/pound: DOWN at 83.73 pence from 84.03 pence
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 146.44 from 146.92 yen
Y.Jeong--CPN