- Oil giant BP cuts thousands of jobs to slash costs
- EU announces 120 mn euros in Gaza aid after ceasefire
- Nepal's top court bars infrastructure in protected areas
- Stock markets jump as inflation worries ease
- China to probe US chips over dumping, subsidies
- India's outcast toilet cleaners keeping Hindu festival going
- Apple loses top spot in China smartphone sales to local rivals
- Sri Lanka signs landmark $3.7 bn deal with Chinese state oil giant
- Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket blasts into orbit for first time
- UK economy rebounds but headwinds remain for govt
- Stocks follow Wall St higher on welcome US inflation data
- Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket blasts off in first launch, reaches orbit
- Chinese give guarded welcome to spending subsidies
- World Bank plans $20 bn payout for Pakistan over coming decade
- Indian Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan stabbed in burglary
- Taiwan's TSMC says net profit rose 57% in fourth quarter
- India achieves 'historic' space docking mission
- Herbicide under US scrutiny over potential Parkinson's link
- AFP strikes deal for France's Mistral AI to use news articles
- Survivors count the mental cost of Los Angeles fires
- US consumer inflation rises in December but underlying pressures ease
- SpaceX delays latest Starship megarocket test to Thursday
- Brad Pitt isn't messaging you, rep warns, after adoring fan scammed
- Prince William makes pub visit to meet fellow Aston Villa fans
- US bank profits rise as Wall Street hopes for merger boom
- Methane leaks from Nord Stream pipeline blasts revised up: studies
- Death toll at illegal S.African mine reaches 78
- US consumer inflation rises December but underlying pressures ease
- Stock markets get boost from bank earnings, inflation data
- Mozambique's new president vows 'unity' as sworn in amid deadly protests
- Syria sex abuse survivors need aid, says Nobel winner Mukwege
- Spain hosted record 94 mn foreign tourists in 2024
- European stocks climb as inflation takes centre stage
- BP nears deals for oil fields, curbs on gas flaring in Iraq
- Mozambique inaugurates new president after deadly post-election unrest
- Syrian activists work to avoid return to dictatorship
- Beijing 'firmly opposes' US ban on smart cars with Chinese tech
- Equities mixed as US inflation, China data loom
- UK inflation dips, easing some pressure on government
- German bourse banks on Trump-fuelled crypto boom
- Record 36.8 million tourists visited Japan in 2024
- German far-right AfD takes aim at Bauhaus movement
- SpaceX set for seventh test of Starship megarocket
- Private US, Japanese lunar landers launch on single rocket
- Spanish youth ditch dating apps for 'real life' love
- Bangladesh's Yunus demands return of stolen billions
- Asian equities mixed as US inflation, China data loom
- Renewed US trade war threatens China's 'lifeline'
- China's economy seen slowing further in 2024: AFP survey
- Musk, Bezos, Zuckerberg to attend Trump inauguration: report
Stock markets jump as inflation worries ease
Stock markets jumped Thursday after below-forecast US inflation data provided a much-needed shot of relief to investors and revived hopes of further cuts to interest rates.
European and Asian indices gained after a Wall Street rally on Wednesday following also strong earnings from US banks.
The Paris stock market surged more than two percent in midday deals Thursday on big gains for the luxury sector after Cartier owner Richemont reported record quarterly sales.
London rose even as data showed the UK economy expanded at a slower pace than expected in November.
"It is a sea of green in the European equity space and futures contracts are pointing to a stronger open for US stocks," noted Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB trading group.
"There are threats to inflation down the road, but they are concerns for another day.
"For now, stocks are playing catch up, bonds remain stable and the weakening in the dollar in recent days has helped to boost risk sentiment."
Still, there remains a certain amount of caution ahead of Donald Trump returning to the White House next week, having promised to ramp up tariffs on imports, and slash taxes and regulations that many fear could reignite inflation.
Oil prices eased despite uncertainty over a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
Gaza's civil defence agency said Thursday that Israel has pounded several areas of the Palestinian territory since the announcement of a ceasefire deal, killing at least 73 people and wounding hundreds.
Israel accused Hamas of backtracking on parts of the deal announced Wednesday.
Crude futures had won strong support since the announcement Friday of fresh US-UK sanctions on Russia's energy sector -- and amid fears Trump will ramp up measures against key producer Iran.
- Key figures around 1045 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.8 percent at 8,369.14 points
Paris - CAC 40: UP 2.0 percent at 7,625.29
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.1 percent at 20,601.39
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.3 percent at 38,572.60 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 1.2 percent at 19,522.89 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.3 percent at 3,236.03 (close)
New York - Dow: UP 1.7 percent at 43,221.55 (close)
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0291 from $1.0293 on Wednesday
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2206 from $1.2239
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 155.66 yen from 156.52 yen
Euro/pound: UP at 84.28 pence from 84.08 pence
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.3 percent at $78.45 per barrel
Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.4 percent at $81.69 per barrel
T.Morelli--CPN