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- Intense Israeli bombing rocks Beirut ahead of war anniversary
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- Austrian rapper channels anti-racist rage in Romani hip-hop songs
- Ohtani magic powers Dodgers over Padres in MLB playoff thriller
- Five of the best: Pakistan-England Test thrillers
- Man sets arm on fire as marches across US mark Gaza war anniversary
- Vietnam's young coffee entrepreneurs brew up a revolution
- Trump rallies at site of failed assassination: 'Never quit'
- Too hot by day, Dubai's floodlit beaches are packed at night
- Is music finally reckoning with #MeToo?
- 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
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- Liverpool suffer Alisson injury blow
- Habosi helps Racing beat Vannes before Auradou's playing return
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- Liverpool extend Premier League lead with win at Palace
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European stock markets waver amid rocketing UK inflation
Europe's stock markets wavered Wednesday as investors digested news that UK inflation has spiked to a 40-year peak, stoking fear over the economic impact of sky-high global consumer prices.
London stocks eased 0.1 percent as official data showed British inflation hit 9 percent in April on runaway energy costs.
The news sent the pound sliding on fear that the cost-of-living crisis will spark a recession in Britain, in line with the Bank of England's recent forecast.
In the eurozone, Frankfurt equities flatlined and Paris also shed 0.1 percent in value.
- Recession 'increasingly inevitable' -
"It's been a relatively flat day so far," OANDA analyst Craig Erlam told AFP.
"A recession is looking increasingly inevitable in the UK and other countries... if the inflation data does not improve.
"That does not bode well for equity markets."
The technical definition of a recession is two quarters of economic contraction in a row.
Investors remain on red alert over decades-high inflation, which has surged around the world as Russia's invasion of Ukraine fuels spiking energy and food prices.
That in turn has sparked interest rate hikes from major central banks including the Bank of England and the US Federal Reserve, as they seek to contain runaway prices.
Asian equities traded mixed on Wednesday, despite strong Wall Street gains after brisk US retail sales data.
The Fed's monetary policy tightening has sent jolts through markets this year, deepening the apprehension of investors already roiled by China's Covid-19 lockdowns and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
But there was some good news out of the United States, with data showing increased spending by Americans in April. Retail sales rose 0.9 percent -- partly boosted by a rebound in auto purchases.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell said Tuesday that there needs to be "clear" evidence that US inflation is coming down before efforts to cool the economy can be pulled back.
And he acknowledged that it may be a "bumpy" ride that would inflict some pain.
The world's largest economy also faces the fastest inflation in around four decades, prompting the Fed to go to battle to try to cool price pressures.
It announced earlier this month the biggest interest rate increase since 2000.
Powell said policymakers agree another aggressive increase is "on the table" in June and July.
- Key figures at around 1115 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.1 percent at 7,510.88 points
Frankfurt - DAX: FLAT at percent at 14,189.08
Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.1 percent at 6,421.52
EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.2 percent at 3,734.18
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.2 percent at 20,644.28 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.3 percent at 3,085.98 (close)
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.9 percent at 26,911.20 (close)
New York - Dow: UP 1.3 percent at 32,654.59 (close)
Brent North Sea crude: UP 1.1 percent at $113.16 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.5 percent at $114.05 per barrel
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0523 from $1.0550 at 2100 GMT Tuesday
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2415 from $1.2493
Euro/pound: UP at 84.76 pence from 84.45 pence
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 129.08 yen from 129.38 yen
Ferreira--PC