![World stocks shrug off rate, inflation concerns](https://www.portugalcolonial.pt/media/shared/articles/38/6a/9f/World-stocks-shrug-off-rate--inflat-204904.jpg)
-
What's the fallout of Mexican drug lords' capture?
-
Video game makers see actors as AI 'data,' says union on strike
-
Chinese qualifier Shang to face Thompson in ATP Atlanta semis
-
'Massive attack' on French rail threatens more chaos
-
'We did it!': France breathes sigh of relief after Olympics ceremony
-
Regional concern grows as Venezuela blocks vote observers
-
Historic river parade, Dion show-stopper ignite Paris Olympics
-
Rainy Paris Olympic parade dampens many spectators' spirits
-
The one of a kind Paris opening ceremony: five memorable moments
-
Justin Timberlake seeks to dismiss DUI case
-
Warner Brothers Discovery sues NBA over Amazon rights deal
-
Kobe Bryant locker, Maradona jersey up for auction in New York
-
Historic river parade launches Paris Olympics
-
New York family of Holocaust victim reclaims Nazi-looted art
-
NASA Mars rover captures rock that could hold fossilized microbes
-
Thousands evacuate season's biggest wildfire in northern California
-
Ethiopia mourns victims of landslide tragedy
-
Lady Gaga adds sparkle to star-studded Olympic show
-
Airbus and Boeing supremacy secure despite turbulence
-
Teams sail down Seine in rain-soaked Olympics opening ceremony
-
West Indies' treble strike rocks England in third Test
-
Olympic opening ceremony under way on River Seine
-
Mott's England future uncertain as ECB chief fails to offer support
-
Trump meets Israeli PM Netanyahu in Florida
-
S.African police say 95 Libyans detained at suspected military camp
-
Blinken set for talks with Chinese counterpart in Laos
-
Norris heads Piastri in McLaren one-two at Belgian GP practice
-
G20 seeks common ground on taxing super-rich
-
European medicines watchdog rejects new Alzheimer's drug
-
Habib, Ebden eye Alcaraz and Djokovic shocks at Olympics tennis
-
Long queues, ticketing problems ahead of Paris opening ceremony
-
Two Sinaloa Cartel leaders face US charges after stunning capture
-
Spain train driver jailed for 2.5 years over deadly 2013 crash
-
Paris poised for Olympic opening ceremony spectacular
-
Judoka fails doping test in first case at Paris Olympics
-
Holder and Da Silva keep England at bay after West Indies collapse
-
Alpine F1 boss Bruno Famin to leave in August
-
Ethiopia declares three days of mourning after landslide tragedy
-
Brazilian dunes dotted with dazzling pools make UNESCO heritage list
-
Rain, cooling slow huge blaze in Canada's Jasper park
-
French Rugby's Jaminet suspended 34 weeks after racist video: Federation
-
Osaka looking to turbo-charge comeback at Paris Olympics
-
Russian central bank hikes key rate to fight inflation
-
Verstappen tops times in opening practice, faces grid penalty
-
UK to reveal £20 bn hole in public finances: reports
-
Gaming sector recovery on flamboyant display at ChinaJoy expo
-
Biles ready to unveil unique uneven bars skill at Paris Olympics
-
Players unaware of spying scandal as Canada Olympic coach sent home: official
-
Snoop Dogg stars as flame sails into Paris for opening ceremony
-
US Fed's favored inflation measure cools further in June
![World stocks shrug off rate, inflation concerns](https://www.portugalcolonial.pt/media/shared/articles/38/6a/9f/World-stocks-shrug-off-rate--inflat-204904.jpg)
World stocks shrug off rate, inflation concerns
Global stock markets mostly held their ground on Tuesday as investors shrugged off concerns of higher interest rates in the face of high inflation.
In mid-afternoon trading, the main European markets were all in positive territory, taking their lead from gains in Asia earlier, even if, on the other side of the Atlantic, sentiment softened slightly on Wall Street.
The day before, US equities had jumped as Federal Reserve officials sought to play down concerns that the US central bank will embark on an aggressive phase of monetary tightening.
But when trading opened on Tuesday, the Dow eased back into negative territory, while if the tech-heavy NASDAQ was up 1.6 percent.
Stocks have been under pressure as the Federal Reserve has shifted policy and signalled a likely interest rate hike in March. Investors have also been monitoring ongoing tensions in Ukraine and the ebbs and flows of Covid-19.
"Good news is that some Federal Reserve officials are finally out trying to soothe investors' nerves, saying that they still want to avoid unnecessarily disrupting the US economy," said Swissquote analyst, Ipek Ozkardeskaya.
"The S&P 500 (on Wall Street) finished January with a strong two-day rally, but the index is still more than five percent lower than where it kicked off the year, having recorded its worst month since March 2020."
Oil prices dipped again as the world's top crude-producing countries prepare to meet Wednesday to discuss a further increase in output.
- Rate decisions -
On Tuesday, Sydney shares ended in positive territory as the Australian central bank decided against raising interest rates to battle inflation, instead just announcing the end to its bond-buying stimulus from next week.
Traders are now awaiting policy decisions by the Bank of England and European Central Bank due Thursday, the eve of key US jobs data.
The surge on Wall Street on Monday came at the end of a volatile month characterised by speculation over the Fed's plans to get a grip on runaway prices, with fears that it could raise US borrowing costs as many as seven times this year, starting with a 50-basis-point move in March.
Comments from some leading Fed officials at the weekend added to expectations the policy board would go hard and fast, though some were out on Monday trying to play down such a move.
The Nasdaq closed up more than three percent Monday, paring losses for January to nine percent, having at one point been down almost 15 percent during the month.
Business was thin across Asia Tuesday owing to the Chinese New Year break that saw Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Seoul, Taipei, Manila and Jakarta closed.
"Investors should not lose sight of the fact that the economy remains strong, which should limit downside from current levels," said And Solita Marcelli at UBS Global Wealth Management.
- Key figures around 1450 GMT -
New York - Dow: DOWN 0.1 percent at 35,063.78 points
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.9 percent at 7,529.34
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 1.2 percent at 15,663.63
Paris - CAC 40: UP 1.5 percent at 7,102.57
EURO STOXX 50: UP 1.3 percent at 4,229.84
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.3 percent at 27,078.48 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: Closed for a holiday
Shanghai - Composite: Closed for a holiday
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1271 from $1.1235 late Monday
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3511 from $1.3445
Euro/pound: DOWN at 83.43 pence from 83.54 pence
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 114.68 yen from 115.13 yen
Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 1.0 percent at $88.36 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.0 percent at $87.29 per barrel
L.Carrico--PC