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Cuba adopts urgent measures to address energy crisis: minister
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Not-so-American football: the Super Bowl's overseas stars
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Trump says US talks with Iran 'very good,' more negotiations expected
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Trump administration re-approves twice-banned pesticide
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Hisatsune leads Matsuyama at Phoenix Open as Scheffler makes cut
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Beyond the QBs: 5 Super Bowl players to watch
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Grass v artificial turf: Super Bowl players speak out
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Police warn Sydney protesters ahead of Israeli president's visit
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Bolivia wants closer US ties, without alienating China: minister
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Ex-MLB outfielder Puig guilty in federal sports betting case
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Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics open with dazzling ceremony
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China overturns death sentence for Canadian in drug case
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Trump reinstates commercial fishing in protected Atlantic waters
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Man Utd can't rush manager choice: Carrick
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Leeds boost survival bid with win over relegation rivals Forest
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Stars, Clydesdales and an AI beef jostle for Super Bowl ad glory
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Dow surges above 50,000 for first time as US stocks regain mojo
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Freeski star Gu says injuries hit confidence as she targets Olympic treble
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UK police search properties in Mandelson probe
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Bompastor extends contract as Chelsea Women's boss despite slump
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Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics open with glittering ceremony
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A French yoga teacher's 'hell' in a Venezuelan jail
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England's Underhill taking nothing for granted against Wales
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Fans cheer for absent Ronaldo as Saudi row deepens
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Violence-ridden Haiti in limbo as transitional council wraps up
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Hundreds protest in Milan ahead of Winter Olympics
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Suspect in murder of Colombian footballer Escobar killed in Mexico
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Colombia's Rodriguez signs with MLS Minnesota United
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Wainwright says England game still 'huge occasion' despite Welsh woes
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WADA shrugs off USA withholding dues
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France detects Russia-linked Epstein smear attempt against Macron
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Winter Olympics to open with star-studded ceremony
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Trump posts, then deletes, racist clip of Obamas as monkeys
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Danone expands recall of infant formula batches in Europe
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Trump deletes racist video post of Obamas as monkeys
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Colombia's Rodriguez signs with MLS side Minnesota United
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UK police probing Mandelson after Epstein revelations search properties
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Russian drone hits Ukrainian animal shelter
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US says new nuclear deal should include China, accuses Beijing of secret tests
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French cycling hope Seixas dreaming of Tour de France debut
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France detects Russia-linked Epstein smear attempt against Macron: govt source
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EU nations back chemical recycling for plastic bottles
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Terror at Friday prayers: witnesses describe blast rocking Islamabad mosque
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Iran expects more US talks after 'positive atmosphere' in Oman
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US says 'key participant' in 2012 attack on Benghazi mission arrested
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Why bitcoin is losing its luster after stratospheric rise
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Arteta apologises to Rosenior after disrespect row
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Terror at Friday prayers: witness describes 'extremely powerful' blast in Islamabad
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Winter Olympics men's downhill: Three things to watch
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Ice dancers Chock and Bates shine as US lead Japan in team event
World stocks consolidate Fed-fuelled gains
Global stocks on Friday held on to gains seen after the Federal Reserve bank delivered a much-anticipated rate easing this week, but investors shied away from big bets on the future direction of US interest rates.
European and Asian equity markets tracked Thursday's record performance on Wall Street, where the equities seemed poised to end the week on a high note.
"Global stock markets are still pushing higher," observed Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB, noting that European stocks had pulled ahead of US markets since the start of the month.
Focus for global investors switches to next week's release of US jobs data, which could provide insights into the Federal Reserve's plans for next year.
Partial data released Thursday showed US jobless claims rose more than expected in the week ended December 6, marking their biggest increase for five and a half years and reinforcing the view of a softening labour market.
Traders welcomed Fed boss Jerome Powell's post-meeting comments Wednesday -- seen as less hawkish than feared -- but the policy board's statement suggested it could hold off from a fourth straight cut in January.
While there was some concern about sector valuations after disappointing earnings from sector giants Oracle and Broadcom caused a tech dip Thursday, this did not translate into sustained selling pressure.
London stock prices underperformed their European peers after official data showed that the UK economy unexpectedly contracted in October.
- Key figures at around 1435 GMT -
New York - Dow: UP 0.3 percent at 48,831.12
New York - Nasdaq: DOWN 0.4 percent at 23,508.69
New York: S&P 500: DOWN 0.1 percent at 6,893.29
London - FTSE 100: FLAT at 9,700.60 points
Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.7 percent at 8,138.75
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.4 percent at 24,379.84
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.4 percent at 50,836.55 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 1.8 percent at 25,976.79 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.4 percent at 3,889.35 (close)
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1731 from $1.1741 on Thursday
Dollar/yen: UP at 156.01 yen from 155.58
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3372 from $1.3394
Euro/pound: UP at 87.75 pence from 87.65 pence
Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.3 percent at $61.12 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.2 percent at $57.49 per barrel
burs-jh/sbk
S.Keller--BTB