Global stock markets showed a mixed performance on Wednesday, despite gains on Wall Street, as concerns grew over the escalating conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
On Tuesday, Ukraine reportedly fired several American-supplied longer-range missiles into Russia, marking the first such use in nearly 1,000 days of war. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin lowered the threshold for Russia's use of nuclear weapons.
In Europe, Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.1% following a report of an uptick in inflation to 2.3% in October. Germany's DAX and France's CAC 40 also posted gains.
In Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 slipped after the country recorded a trade deficit for the fourth consecutive month. China's central bank announced no changes to its benchmark lending rates, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng and Shanghai Composite saw modest gains.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 dipped, while South Korea's Kospi edged higher.
On Wall Street, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite rebounded from early losses, with Nvidia's stock surging ahead of its profit report. Walmart and Lowe's reported strong earnings, with Walmart raising its full-year forecasts.
Investors sought safety in U.S. Treasury bonds amid geopolitical tensions, leading to a decline in yields. Gold prices rose as investors turned to traditional safe-haven assets.
In the energy market, benchmark U.S. crude oil and Brent crude prices saw slight gains.
The dollar strengthened against the Japanese yen but weakened against the euro.
Looking ahead, Target and Deere & Co. are among the major companies set to report quarterly results this week.
