- 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
- 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
European stocks rebound, oil higher in major trading week
Europe's main stock markets recovered Monday following gains in Asia and a pre-weekend rally on Wall Street, as traders look ahead to key policy decisions by OPEC and central banks as well as US jobs data.
Share prices began the week higher following volatile trading in recent sessions as investors track concerns over high inflation and interest rate rises plus Covid uncertainty and the Ukraine-Russia crisis.
"There's no shortage of risk events for the markets this week with rate decisions from the Bank of England and the ECB (European Central Bank), the US jobs report and a slew of earnings," noted Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor.
Most Asian stock markets closed higher Monday, though traders remained nervous about the Federal Reserve's plan to hike US interest rates as it battles surging inflation.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq led the strong finish for US equities Friday thanks to soaring fourth-quarter profits at Apple, which lifted optimism about consumer spending and the economic recovery.
The strong performance, coupled with strong US economic data, filtered through to Asia, where trade was thinned by investors winding down ahead of the three-day Lunar New Year break that starts Tuesday.
- Rates in focus -
The gains followed a period of upheaval across world markets as the Fed readies to withdraw the vast financial support put in place at the start of the pandemic, which has fuelled a near two-year equity rally.
Observers debate the Fed's likely moves as US inflation sits at a four-decade high, with some saying it could hike up to seven times before 2023, with an initial 50 basis point move in March.
The Bank of England is widely expected to increase its main interest rate by a quarter-point Thursday to 0.5 percent.
That follows its decision in December to increase borrowing costs from a record-low 0.1 percent to 0.25 percent to combat decades-high inflation.
This week sees also an ECB policy update.
ECB chief Christine Lagarde has downplayed inflation concerns, arguing that the forces pushing up prices across the eurozone are expected to ease over 2022.
Official data Monday showed the eurozone economy grew 5.2 percent last year after a pandemic-induced recession.
Markets reacted positively to the re-election of President Sergio Mattarella in eurozone member Italy over the weekend.
Milan's FTSE MIB index was up 1.1 percent in late morning deals.
"The result of Italy's presidential vote has gone down well in the markets," said Capital Economics analyst Jack Allen-Reynolds, noting that government bond yields fell.
The only other serious contender for the job -- Prime Minister Mario Draghi -- was needed at the head of government to keep Rome on track with major reforms to the tax and justice systems and public sector.
- Oil up before OPEC -
Oil prices were higher as OPEC and its allies prepare to meet Wednesday to discuss a further increase in output.
Brent crude last week surpassed $90 per barrel, a level last seen in October 2014.
The price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude hit its highest level in more than seven years earlier this month, fuelled by easing concerns about the Omicron Covid variant and geopolitical tensions.
Analysts have said that if Russia sends troops into Ukraine, crude prices could top $100 for the first time since 2014.
- Key figures around 1015 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.2 percent at 7,480.44 points
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 1.3 percent at 15,515.41
Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.9 percent at 7,024.95
EURO STOXX 50: UP 1.3 percent at 4,189.18
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.1 percent at 27,001.98 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 1.1 percent at 23,802.26 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: Closed for a holiday
New York - Dow: UP 1.7 percent at 34,725.47 (close)
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1178 from $1.1158 Friday
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3445 from $1.3389
Euro/pound: DOWN at 83.13 pence from 83.16 pence
Dollar/yen: UP at 115.39 yen from 115.24 yen
Brent North Sea crude: UP 0.5 percent at $88.97 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.8 percent at $87.51 per barrel
A.Leibowitz--CPN