In This Article:
The FTSE 100 and European stocks ticked upwards on Tuesday, while US stocks retreated, as tensions flare again in the Middle East and traders look to central bank meetings later in the week.
On Tuesday, the Hamas-run health ministry said that more than 400 people were killed overnight in air strikes by Israeli forces.
The strikes end a ceasefire which came into effect on 19 January and after talks to extend the ceasefire failed to reach an agreement.
Commodity-related stocks, oil prices and gold rallied in response.
-
The FTSE 100 (^FTSE) rose 0.2% by the closing bell in London. Among top gainers were miners Antofagasta (ANTO.L) as well as oil major BP (BP.L).
-
Germany's DAX (^GDAXI) rose 0.8%, as the country's ZEW economic survey beat expectations.
-
The CAC 40 (^FCHI) in Paris ticked up 0.4%, while the pan-European STOXX 600 (^STOXX) rose 0.5%.
-
US stocks fell, as traders look to the two-day Federal Reserve rate-setting meeting, which commences today. The Bank of England's monetary policy committee also meets this week, with announcements on the rate path due on Thursday.
-
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) and S&P 500 (^GSPC) fell about 0.7% and 1%, respectively. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) sank 1.6% lower.
-
Uncertainty still dogs markets as investors debate whether the sell-off that pushed the S&P 500 into correction territory is over. Many on Wall Street don't think the recent bump in stocks signals a clear bottom, amid concerns that president Donald Trump's trade war will hit already weakening economic growth.