- Russia tries playwright and director on terror charges
- Iran mourns president Raisi's death in helicopter crash
- Attack on tourists rocks fledgling Afghanistan tourism sector
- Paralympics should put disability back on global agenda, says IPC chief
- South Africa's top court strikes Zuma from ballot
- Crunch time looms for BHP's bid buy Anglo American
- Kane to face old club Spurs for first time in Seoul
- Markets rise as traders cheered by China property plan
- Black farmers in Brazil changing views on coffee production
- Iran's President Raisi declared dead in helicopter crash
- Australia police arrest 554 in domestic violence crackdown
- South Korea, Britain host AI summit with safety top of agenda
- New president Lai vows to defend Taiwan's democracy
- Forever fad: Rubik says his cube 'reminds us why we have hands'
- Trump eyes witness stand as trial draws to a close
- Ryanair annual profit jumps on higher demand, fares
- High-priced Cummins, Starc face off as IPL enters playoffs
- Iran media says President Raisi died in helicopter crash
- Dominican Republic President Abinader re-elected to 2nd term
- New Taiwan president Lai hails 'glorious' democracy
- New Caledonia separatists defy French efforts to unblock roads
- Timberwolves knock out defending champion Nuggets, Pacers oust Knicks
- Trump biopic hits Cannes Film Festival
- Iran President Raisi's helicopter found, 'no sign of life'
- Three talking points ahead of 2024 French Open
- 'Haikyu!!': Comic heroes fuel Japan Olympic volleyball manga mania
- Timberwolves rally to knock defending champion Nuggets out of NBA playoffs
- London court set to rule on Julian Assange extradition
- Business and Bollywood votes in India election
- Pope calls anti-migrant attitudes at US border 'madness'
- Mexico aims to be big economic winner from US-China tensions
- Uncertain future for thousands after deadly Brazil floods
- Schauffele makes the putt of his life for first major win
- Wirtz returns to help unbeaten Leverkusen chase history
- Search for Iran's President Raisi after helicopter goes missing
- DeChambeau's powerful putting has him excited for US Open
- Taiwan to swear in new president as China pressure grows
- Atalanta can end 61-year wait for trophy in Europa League final
- Schauffele birdies final hole to capture PGA for first major win
- Guardiola casts doubt over long-term Man City future
- Hollywood icons Costner and Demi Moore make Cannes comeback
- Pacers shoot down Knicks to reach NBA Eastern Conference finals
- Schauffele birdies final hole, captures first major at PGA Championship
- McLaughlin powers to Indy 500 pole in all-Penske front row
- Monaco footballer tapes over LGBTQ badge
- Korda wins sixth LPGA title of year with win at Liberty National
- Pacers put on shooting show to down Knicks, reach NBA Eastern Conference finals
- US envoy touts 'potential' of Israel-Saudi deal in Netanyahu talks
- Dominicans vote for president in poll overshadowed by Haiti crisis
- Brest secure Champions League qualification, PSG win without Mbappe
European stocks stutter before Bank of England rate call
European stock markets wavered on Thursday but with London close to a record peak before a Bank of England decision on interest rates.
London's benchmark FTSE 100 index opened with gains but turned flat ahead of the BoE's rate call at 1100 GMT.
In mixed eurozone deals, Frankfurt rose but Paris fell with many traders away for the Ascension Day holiday in France.
In Asia, traders also struggled to get a recent rally back on course following Wednesday's tepid lead from Wall Street.
The Bank of England is set Thursday to keep its main interest rate at a 16-year high, resisting a cut as UK inflation cools at a slower pace than forecast.
The British central bank is widely expected to maintain borrowing costs at 5.25 percent for a sixth meeting in a row, mirroring a wait-and-see approach by the US Federal Reserve and European Central Bank as global inflation also eases.
- Markets freeze -
"It's common to see markets freeze ahead of an interest rate decision and that's exactly what's happened in the UK," said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.
"While the Bank of England isn't expected to cut..., investors are waiting nervously for the accompanying commentary."
London's FTSE 100 stocks index had chalked up another all-time high Wednesday on hope BoE officials will flag their intention to begin reducing borrowing costs.
That comes after Sweden's central bank on Wednesday reduced borrowing costs for the first time in eight years and cited more were in the pipeline.
The Riksbank decision was announced nearly two months after the Swiss National Bank became the first major Western central bank to move since a global tightening campaign to fight inflation fuelled by Covid recovery and the Ukraine war.
Traders hoping for Fed cuts have been on a rollercoaster ride this year as a string of forecast-beating inflation readings have forced them to chip away at their expectations.
The consensus is now about two cuts by January, against six estimated at the start of 2024.
Oil prices ticked higher as investors keep tabs on efforts for a ceasefire in the Middle East, even as Israel presses ahead with an assault on Rafah in southern Gaza.
- Key figures around 1000 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: FLAT at 8,354.73 points
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.3 percent at 18,544.88
Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.1 percent at 8,120.63
EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.4 percent at 5,015.76
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.3 percent at 38,073.98 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 1.2 percent at 18,537.81 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.8 percent at 3,154.32 (close)
New York - Dow: UP 0.4 percent at 39,056.39 (close)
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0729 from $1.0748 on Wednesday
Dollar/yen: UP at 155.88 yen from 155.63 yen
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2473 from $1.2495
Euro/pound: UP at 86.01 from 86.00 pence
West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.6 percent at $79.45 per barrel
Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.5 percent at $84.02 per barrel
J.Horn--BTB