- 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
- South Korean cult-horror series 'Hellbound' returns at BIFF
- Nepalis fear more floods as climate change melts glaciers
- Honduras arrests environmentalist's alleged murderer
- Padres pitcher Musgrove needs elbow surgery
- Supreme Court lets stand rules to curb mercury, methane emissions
- Boston beat Denver in NBA exhibition season opener, but Jokic says omens are good
- Chagos diaspora angry at lack of input on islands' fate
- Biden says 'not confident' of peaceful US election
- US trade chief defends tariff hikes when paired with investment
- Lukaku stars as Napoli beat Como to hold Serie A top spot
- Ohtani set for MLB playoff debut as Dodgers face Padres
- Pogba's drug ban cut to 18 months from four years
- Devine leads New Zealand to big win over India in Women's T20 World Cup
- Bosnia floods kill 16 people
- EU court blocks French ban on vegetable 'steak' labelling
- Prosecutors seek dismissal of rape charges against French rugby players
- Meta AI turns pictures into videos with sound
- Bolivia's Morales says claims he raped a minor are a 'lie'
- MLB Reds hire two-time champion Francona as manager
- Daniel Maldini receives first Italy call-up for Nations League
- US dockworkers return to ports after three-day strike
Stocks rise as traders eye rate hikes, Ukraine
Stock markets in the United States and Europe mostly rose Monday as investors track corporate earnings, expected interest rate hikes and the standoff over Ukraine.
Wall Street was mixed in early trading, with the Dow slightly lower while the NASDAQ and S&P 500 were up.
In Europe, the London FTSE 100, Frankfurt DAX and Paris CAC 40 were up at least half a point in afternoon trading.
A forecast-busting US jobs report Friday reinforced optimism that the world's top economy was well on the recovery track, but also ramped up expectations of an interest rate hike by the US Federal Reserve in March.
It comes as surging global inflation resulted in the Bank of England last week hiking its main interest rate for a second meeting in a row, while the European Central Bank signalled for the first time that it may raise borrowing costs this year.
"Volatility is likely to continue as the global markets adjust to the prospect of tighter monetary policies, as well as geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine, and a mixed Q4 (fourth quarter) earnings season, which will continue to roll on this week," investment bank Charles Schwab said in a note.
With US inflation data this week tipped to show prices rising at a pace not seen in 40 years, traders are becoming increasingly anguished that Federal Reserve rate hike plans could jeopardise the recovery.
There is mounting talk that the US central bank will have to hike borrowing costs at least four times this year -- with some predicting as many as seven rises could occur.
- 'Worst appears behind us' -
Craig Erlam at trading platform OANDA said investors have already prepared for potential rate increases.
"And with so much now priced in -- of course, there's always room for more -- we could see investors taking some comfort from the fact that the worst appears to be behind us," he said.
On the geopolitical front, investors are nervous over Western fears that Russia plans to invade Ukraine.
Investors are also watching for more corporate earnings statements this week after a disappointing report from Facebook parent Meta last week caused the company's shares to sink, dragging markets along.
Elsewhere Monday, oil prices continued their retreat after European benchmark contract, Brent North Sea crude, hit $94 -- the highest level for more than seven years.
"Oil prices are a little flat at the start of the week with the rally losing a little momentum after nuclear talks between the US and Iran appeared to make positive progress," Erlam said.
But the continued reopening of the world economy as well as a cold snap in the United States and uncertainty over the Russia-Ukraine stand-off are expected to keep crude futures well supported, according to analysts.
- Key figures around 1430 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.7 percent at 7566.06 points
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.6 percent at 15191.47
Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.5 percent at 6985.99
EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.7 percent at 4,113.14
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.7 percent at 27,248.87 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: FLAT at 24,579.55 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: UP 2.0 percent at 3,429.58 (close)
New York - Dow: DOWN 0.1 percent at 35062.41 percent
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1431 from $1.1453 Friday
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3514 from $1.3527
Euro/pound: DOWN at 84.58 pence from 84.65 pence
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 115.08 from 115.21 yen
Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.54 percent at $92.77 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.16 percent at $91.24 per barrel
F.Santana--PC