- Fans hail Trump's 'guts' as he returns to site of rally shooting
- Lebanon state media says Israeli strikes hit south Beirut
- Miami on track for MLS record points after win in Toronto
- Monaco take top spot in Ligue 1 with win at Rennes
- Madrid beat Villarreal to level Liga leaders Barca
- Thuram treble fires Inter past Torino and up to second
- 'Fight': defiant Trump jets in to site of rally shooting
- Mexico City's new mayor sworn in with pledges on water, housing
- Israel on alert ahead of Hamas attack anniversary
- Guardians maul Tigers in MLB playoff series opener
- Macron criticises Israel on Gaza, Lebanon operations
- French rugby player whistled but 'serene' on return amid ongoing rape case
- Retegui hat-trick fires five-star Atalanta to hammering of Genoa
- Heavyweights Australia, England off to World Cup winning starts
- Visiting UN refugee agency chief decries 'terrible crisis' in Lebanon
- Spinners come to party as England defeat Bangladesh at T20 World Cup
- Search continues for missing in deadly Bosnia floods
- Man City sink Fulham to get title bid back on track
- France's Auradou whistled on Pau return in Perpignan loss amid ongoing rape case
- A 'forgotten' valley in storm-hit North Carolina, desperate for help
- Arsenal hit back in style after Southampton scare
- Hezbollah heir apparent Safieddine out of contact after strikes
- Liverpool stay top of Premier League as Arsenal, Man City win
- In dank Tour of Emilia, Pogacar shines in rainbow jersey
- DR Congo launches mpox vaccination drive, hoping to curb outbreak
- Trump returns to site of failed assassination
- Careless Leverkusen held to Bundesliga draw
- O'Brien's 'superstar' Kyprios posts landmark win on Arc weekend
- Liverpool suffer Alisson injury blow
- Habosi helps Racing beat Vannes before Auradou's playing return
- Thousands march in London in support of Palestinians, 1 year after Oct 7
- Israel readying response to Iran missile attack
- Schutt, Mooney help Australia beat Sri Lanka in Women's T20 World Cup
- Liverpool extend Premier League lead with win at Palace
- Djokovic 'shakes rust off' to make third round of Shanghai Masters
- 'Imperfect' PSG fighting on all fronts - Luis Enrique
- Struggling Pakistan look to thwart adaptable England
- Child 'trampled to death' in asylum seekers' Channel crossing: minister
- Gauff fights back to set up Beijing final against Muchova
- Guardiola claims Premier League won't delay season for Man City
- Israel to mark October 7 attack as Gaza war spreads
- Gauff fights back to reach China Open final
- Recovering Stokes ruled out of first Pakistan Test
- Hezbollah battles troops on border as Israel pounds Lebanon
- Alcaraz, Sinner breeze into third round of Shanghai Masters
- Bagnaia wins Japan MotoGP sprint to cut Martin's lead
- Alcaraz breezes into third round of Shanghai Masters
- Gaza cultural heritage brought to light in Geneva
- 'Bullet for democracy': Trump returns to site of rally shooting
- Italy targets climate activists in 'anti-Gandhi' demo clampdown
Asian stocks open mixed as investors fret over oil prices
Asian stocks opened mixed on Wednesday, following a volatile day on Wall Street that had investors concerned about surging inflation and sent global oil prices retreating.
Equities have been on a roller coaster ride in recent weeks, fuelled by inflationary pressures, Russia's war in Ukraine and concerns about China's Covid-19 lockdowns affecting the global supply chain.
The mainland's sinking April exports -- the lowest in almost two years -- have not reassured global investors, and on Tuesday it reported that its consumer inflation had risen at its quickest pace in nearly half a year.
But while the tea leaves remain far from clear for market readers, many are preparing for the worst.
"Equity investors are positioning for a recession; that pressure will remain acute until they see calming in rate volatility," said Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management.
"The market seems to be fighting too many things to find its footing... The unavoidable growth concerns related to China are leaving a colossal contagion footprint across a plethora of global assets."
Millions across China -- particularly in its economic engine Shanghai -- have been under a Covid-spurred lockdown for weeks, while restrictions have crept up in the capital Beijing.
The World Health Organization on Tuesday said Beijing's zero-Covid strategy is not sustainable given the behavior of recent ultra-contagious variants.
But it is also wreaking havoc on the political and economic fronts, stopping up ports and factories, while inciting rare outrage from residents forced to stay at home with no end in sight.
In New York, the Dow fell for the fourth straight day at Tuesday's close, while the broader S&P 500 edged back up above 4,000 points and Nasdaq jumped one percent.
European markets were more positive -- London, Paris and Frankfurt ended on slight gains.
But Asia's equities on Tuesday showed deep uncertainty with Tokyo, Hong Kong and Korea opening slightly up, while Singapore, Sydney and Seoul volleyed in the negatives.
Crude was sent on a ride, with benchmark US crude contract WTI falling below $100 a barrel on Tuesday. By Wednesday morning, it crept up to about $101.
Despite it being a temporary dip, "energy traders won't forget how tight the oil market is", said Edward Moya, senior market analyst at OANDA.
"Everything in the past 48 hours seems to have turned bearish for oil prices as EU sanctions on Russian energy have completely stalled and as the US dollar rallies over economic growth concerns."
- Key figures at around 0230 GMT -
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.8 percent at 19,801.05
Shanghai - Composite: UP 1.2 percent at 3,073.11
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.3 percent at 26,249.83 (break)
Brent North Sea crude: UP 1.5 percent at $104.03 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.5 percent at $101.22 per barrel
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0534 from $1.0534 on Tuesday
Pound/dollar: FLAT at $1.2319 from $1.2332
Euro/pound: DOWN at 85.41 pence from 85.49 pence
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 130.34 yen from 130.41 yen
New York - Dow: DOWN 0.3 percent at 32,160.74 (close)
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.4 percent at 7,243.22 (close)
G.Teles--PC