Wall Street turned lower and gold surged to record highs on Tuesday as Israeli airstrikes on Gaza revived geopolitical jitters and the U.S. Federal Reserve gathered to discuss monetary policy amid growing economic uncertainty.
German equities closed higher on Tuesday, after the parliament approved plans for a massive spending surge, while investors awaited details from a call between U.S. and Russian leaders with a potential Ukraine peace deal on the line.
Putin agreed to a proposal by Trump for Russia and Ukraine to stop hitting each other's energy infrastructure for 30 days and gave a corresponding order to the Russian military, the Kremlin said.
European shares were largely unchanged on Monday as investors started the new trading week with slight caution around the escalating trade war, while focus remained on the week's upcoming parliamentary vote on Germany's debt reform deal.
A SpaceX Dragon capsule transported four astronauts to the International Space Station as part of a NASA crew-swap mission, paving the way for the return of two NASA astronauts stranded for nine months.
Gold prices, on Monday, stayed just shy of the $3,000-per-ounce milestone scaled in the previous session, as the escalating U.S.-driven tariff war now also threatens economic growth, adding to other geopolitical tensions.
Gold broke through the key $3,000 barrier on Friday for the first time as investors piled on to a historic rally in the safe-haven asset to seek cover from economic uncertainty sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff war.
World markets on Friday ended another choppy week on an upbeat note as investors pushed aside growing concerns over the global trade war and bought back beaten down stocks, although few will be confident a definitive market bottom has been reached yet.
German carmaker BMW said on Friday it expected tariffs to cost it 1 billion euros ($1.09 billion) this year, while European officials warned the U.S. economy would be the biggest loser if President Donald Trump pursues an "idiotic" trade war.
U.S. stocks rebounded on Friday as investors hunted for bargains at the end of a tumultuous week in which U.S. President Donald Trump's escalating trade war fueled recession fears and doused risk appetite.
Two British diplomats expelled in a spying row. A blistering statement from Russia's foreign intelligence service calling Britain "a warmonger." And a threat from a top ally of Vladimir Putin to seize UK assets inside Russia.
Russia will spare the lives of Ukrainian soldiers in its western Kursk region if Kyiv tells them to surrender, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump urged him to avoid a "horrible massacre" there.