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Schmidt reign off to winning start as Australia beat Wales 25-16
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Russian wrestlers reject Olympics invitation
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Raducanu rediscovers Wimbledon 'fun' factor after turbulent spell
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Winning all that matters at Euro 2024 for Mbappe's minimalist France
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Eight dead, two million affected by Bangladesh floods
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Robertson pleased to 'find a way' past England in tough Test baptism
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Martin sets lap record to secure German MotoGP pole
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'Shattered' Germany set sights on World Cup after Euros exit
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Olympic hope Pedersen pulls out of Tour de France
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Djokovic eyes sweet 16 at Wimbledon as Swiatek takes on 'gangster'
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End beckons again for Ronaldo after Portugal Euros KO
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New Zealand edge England 16-15 in tense, brutal first Test
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Turkey take on Dutch in politically charged Euros quarter-final, England face Swiss
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Calling for better ties with West, Iran reformist wins presidency
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Cybercrime groups restructuring after major takedowns: experts
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Activists hail Sierra Leone child marriage ban, urge action on FGM
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Marsch relishing Canada's semi clash with Argentina
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Canada stun Venezuela on penalties to reach Copa semis
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Iran reformist Pezeshkian holds early lead in runoff vote
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Swiatek faces 'gangster' threat, Djokovic feels need for Wimbledon speed
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France holds its breath ahead of uncertain vote
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Starmer begins UK 'rebuild' after landslide election win
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Paris's Moulin Rouge inaugurates new windmill sails ahead of Olympics
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Pan, Rai share halfway lead in PGA John Deere Classic
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'I was feeling terrible' in debate, Biden says in TV interview
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France coach Deschamps savours ending penalty hoodoo, defends Mbappe
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Thompson bids farewell to Warriors after exit
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Portugal exit Euros with pride, will return stronger: Martinez
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UK's new PM Starmer speaks to world leaders, names top team
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Spain and France to face off in Euros last four, Turkey lament 'unfair' Demiral ban
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Israel says negotiators to hold fresh Gaza truce talks next week
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France beat Portugal on penalties to reach Euro 2024 semi-finals
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Endrick to start for Brazil in Uruguay Copa clash: Dorival
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Heartbreak for Germany fans after dramatic Euros exit
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Beryl heads for Texas after causing damage, no deaths in Mexico
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Nagelsmann laments late penalty decision as hosts Germany exit Euros
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Biden declares he's all in ahead of high-risk TV interview
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Spain team 'is a winning horse', says De la Fuente
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Bows at the ready, Chad villagers battle kidnappings
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Alcaraz mimics Bellingham goal celebration after Wimbledon win
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Olmo hopes Pedri can make speedy return for Euros semi-finalists Spain
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Retiring Kroos hopeful despite Germany's 'bitter' Euros exit
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Southgate turns on English 'entitlement' over claims of easy Euros draw
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Merino extra-time goal sends Spain past Germany to Euro semis
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Koeman demands Dutch silence fervent Turkish fans at Euros
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Brad Pitt at Silverstone for filming of F1 movie
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Raducanu storms into Wimbledon last 16
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California fires spread in July 4 weekend heatwave
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Alcaraz wins five-set Wimbledon thriller as Gauff eases through
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Demiral Euros ban 'unfair' but Turkish pride will grow, says coach Montella
European stocks jump on French election hopes
Eurozone stock markets rallied Wednesday and the euro rose on hopes France could avoid a far-right majority in looming polls, while London also gained ground on the eve of its general election.
Equity markets were also lit up following fresh Wall Street records after Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell fanned hopes of a US interest rate cut.
The Paris stock market was Europe's standout performer after more than 200 centrist and left-wing candidates pulled out of Sunday's election runoff in France.
President Emmanuel Macron hopes the move will block the far-right National Rally (RN) of Marine Le Pen from gaining power.
France votes in the final round of snap legislative polls Macron called after his camp was trounced in European elections last month.
That gamble backfired, with RN winning the June 30 first round. But the key suspense now is whether the RN can get enough seats to form a government.
- 'Growing confidence' -
"French stocks lead as parties wrangle to avoid far-right majority," said Shore Markets analyst Joshua Mahony.
There was "growing confidence that the political wrangling underway in advance of this weekend's vote will avoid a majority for Le Pen's National Rally", he added.
London stocks meanwhile climbed, with the opposition Labour Party widely tipped to oust UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservatives on Thursday, according to opinion polls.
"The UK Labour Party appears to be heading for a comfortable majority win, and the prospect of stability could provide a small boost to the market," City Index analyst Fiona Cincotta told AFP.
She cautioned however that "investors' apprehension could limit gains" ahead of the two key votes in Europe.
Elsewhere, Powell on Tuesday fuelled hopes of a US rate reduction by saying the battle against inflation had made "progress" and the job market was cooling.
After a run of above-forecast data and warnings from central bank officials suggesting monetary policy would remain elevated for some time, the remarks provided fresh optimism that a cut -- and possibly two -- was on the way before the end of the year.
- Key figures around 1045 GMT -
Paris - CAC 40: UP 1.6 percent at 7,658.25 points
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 1.0 percent at 18,343.29
EURO STOXX 50: UP 1.4 percent at 4,975.40
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.6 percent at 8,168.20
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.3 percent at 40,580.76 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 1.2 percent at 17,978.57 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.5 percent at 2,982.38 (close)
New York - Dow: UP 0.4 percent at 39,331.85 (close)
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0764 from $1.0749 on Tuesday
Euro/pound: UP at 84.72 pence from 84.71 pence
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2706 from $1.2686
Dollar/yen: UP 161.94 yen at 161.46 yen
Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.1 percent at $86.32 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: FLAT at $82.82 per barrel
burs-rfj/bcp/cw
G.M.Castelo--PC