Tag: World

Global stocks rally as US delays key China tariffs

by Jürgen HECKER Agence France-Presse NW YORK, United States (AFP) — Global stock markets rallied on Tuesday and oil prices surged in a wave of relief after US President Donald Trump delayed tariffs on key consumer items from China, giving investors hope for some detente in the US-China trade war. The announcement caused a dramatic turnaround in equity markets, which had retreated earlier under the combined impact of tensions in Hong Kong, economic crisis in […]

Asia markets down on US-China trade war fears

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Asian markets largely fell Tuesday, but pared back heavy losses following a rout on Wall Street as investors fretted over the US-China trade war. A sharp fall in the Chinese yuan’s value against the dollar — breaching the 7.0 level seen as a key threshold by investors — prompted Washington to formally designate Beijing as a currency manipulator. Tensions have escalated since US President Donald Trump last week announced fresh […]

Record-breaker Peaty leads British charge in Korea

  by Kieran Canning  LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Virtually untouchable when on song, breaststroke king Adam Peaty spearheads a potent British team when the world swimming championships begin on Sunday in Gwangju, South Korea. The world record holder over 50 and 100 metres, Peaty will be the red-hot favourite to retain his world titles but Britain’s supporting cast also contains plenty of quality. Duncan Scott is a sure-fire medal contender after backing up his […]

Oil prices tumble even as producers extend supply agreement

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Oil prices fell sharply on Tuesday even as leading crude exporters extended a supply agreement, while global equities mostly nudged higher in the aftermath of the weekend’s US-China trade detente. Benchmark crude prices tumbled more than four percent following the latest agreement among oil producers, confirmed at a meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries in Vienna and supported by Russia and other exporters. Analysts still see the […]

Oil prices surge after suspected attacks on tankers

by Roland JACKSON NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — World oil prices rose Thursday following suspected attacks on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman, worsening frayed tensions in the crude-rich Middle East region. The rise in oil prices — jumping as much as 4.5 percent before pulling back somewhat — boosted share prices of energy companies, while global stock markets also won some support from the prospect of US interest rate cuts this year. […]

China demands apology for ‘very dirty’ taekwondo disqualification

  SHANGHAI, China (AFP) — China has demanded an apology and called for a life-time ban on a referee who controversially awarded gold to a British competitor at the World Taekwondo Championships. China labelled it “a scandal” and “bizarre” after their Olympic champion Zheng Shuyin was disqualified from the women’s +73kg heavyweight final in Manchester on Friday. Despite the home fighter Bianca Walkden winning, boos rang out when the prizes were awarded — and Zheng, […]

How the world is reacting to Venezuela ‘coup bid’

Venezuela was plunged into heightened chaos on Tuesday after self-proclaimed leader Juan Guaido said he had the support of troops to oust President Nicolas Maduro, while the government denounced what it called an attempted coup. Following are some initial reactions from world governments: – ‘Democracy cannot be defeated’ – The White House urged Venezuela’s armed forces to stand by the country’s “legitimate institutions.” President Donald Trump’s administration has been waging a mounting pressure campaign to […]

Brent oil jumps above $75; stocks markets retreat

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Brent North Sea crude hit a near six-month high above $75 per barrel Thursday on supply concerns that have been worsened by the United States tightening the screw on sanctions-hit Iran. Stock markets meanwhile mostly dropped, with traders across Europe digesting mixed company earnings updates and news of the collapse of two mega-mergers in the supermarket and banking industries. “Brent crude oil has rallied above $75 a barrel for the […]

More than 113 million people suffer ‘acute hunger’: UN

More than 113 million people across 53 countries experienced “acute hunger” last year because of wars and climate disasters, with Africa the worst-hit region, the UN said Tuesday. Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan and Syria were among the eight nations accounting for two-thirds of the total number of people worldwide exposed to the risk of famine, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in its 2019 global report on food crises. Launched three […]

Growth fears pressure world’s stock markets

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — World stock markets were pressured Monday, with Asia taking the heaviest hit, as investors worried about signs of a sharp global economic slowdown. Traders shrugged off news that an investigation found no evidence of collusion between US President Donald Trump’s election campaign and Russia. The pound gave up earlier gains to trade lower against the euro and the dollar after Prime Minister Theresa May admitted Monday she still had […]

World stock markets slide on global growth fears

  by Roland JACKSON Agence France Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Stock markets slid Monday, with Asia taking the heaviest hit, as investors took flight on mounting fears of a sharp global economic slowdown. Investors shrugged off news that an investigation found no evidence of collusion between US President Donald Trump’s election campaign and Russia. On currency markets, the British pound faced fresh selling pressure with Prime Minister Theresa May’s political future hanging in […]

Pound volatile at start of hectic Brexit week

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — The British pound see-sawed Monday as traders jockeyed for position on the eve of another critical parliamentary vote for Prime Minister Theresa May. Meanwhile, in New York, US stocks snapped a five-day losing streak, despite a sharp decline early in the session for Boeing following Sunday’s deadly crash involving one of its a top-selling passenger jets. The British currency kicked off the trading cycle in Asia by tanking to […]