IBT Staff Reporter

Gold prices inched lower on Thursday, hovering close to a 10-week trough touched earlier, as a robust dollar overshadowed jitters over contraction in U.S.

Share markets steadied on Thursday, taking comfort in technology earnings, though an energy crisis in Europe and China's lengthy lockdowns kept the mood cautious and have propelled the dollar close to 20-year highs as investors seek out safety and yield.

Global stocks steadied on Thursday, taking comfort from company earnings, while a collapse in the yen after Japan doubled down on anchoring bond yields drove the dollar toward its highest levels in decades.

The dollar was on the cusp on Thursday of its highest in two decades on Thursday while stocks gained on corporate earnings, with the yen tumbling to its lowest since 2002 after the Bank of Japan doubled down on its ultra loose monetary policy.

The dollar was on the cusp on Thursday of its highest in two decades after the Bank of Japan doubled down on its ultra loose monetary policy, while technology stocks gained on strong earnings, led by a rally in Facebook parent Meta Platforms.

The U.S. dollar touched a two-decade high against rivals on Thursday, as Wall Street rallied and European shares rose from six-week lows with strong earnings reports offseting gloomy U.S.

European leaders denounced Russia's attempt to "blackmail" Ukraine's allies over gas supplies, as Western sanctions batter the Russian economy already struggling with its worst crisis since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of lightning-fast retaliation if countries interfere in Ukraine as European leaders accused Russia of "blackmail" over its cuts to gas supplies.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of lightning-fast retaliation if countries interfere in Ukraine, while U.S.

Russia stepped up its assaults on eastern and southern Ukraine, Kyiv said on Thursday, and President Vladimir Putin threatened "lightning-fast" retaliation against any Western countries that intervene on Ukraine's behalf.

The United States accused Russia on Thursday of planning to stage fake independence votes to justify its conquest of territory in Ukraine, as Russian forces stepped up a major offensive in the east.

Russia fired two missiles into the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Thursday during a visit by U.N.

Russia fired two missiles into Kyiv on Thursday during a visit by U.N.

Russia fired two missiles into Kyiv on Thursday during a visit by U.N.

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The Chinese capital of Beijing closed some public spaces and stepped up checks at others on Thursday, as most of the city's 22 million residents embarked on more COVID-19 mass testing aimed at averting a Shanghai-like lockdown.

Beijing closed some public spaces and stepped up checks at others on Thursday, as most of the Chinese capital's 22 million residents turned up for more mass COVID-19 testing aimed at averting a Shanghai-like lockdown.

Beijing closed some public spaces and stepped up checks at others on Thursday, as most of the Chinese capital's 22 million residents turned up for more mass COVID-19 testing aimed at averting a Shanghai-like lockdown.

Beijing closed some schools and public spaces on Thursday, as most of the Chinese capital's 22 million residents turned up for more mass COVID-19 testing aimed at averting a Shanghai-like lockdown.

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Somalia's lawmakers elected Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur as their new speaker on Thursday, in a vote that was delayed most of the previous day due to disagreements over who would be in charge of the security of the venue of the vote.

Somalia's lawmakers elected a new parliamentary speaker on Thursday following a tense standoff between African Union peacekeepers and police, underscoring bitter divisions within Somalia's security forces exacerbated by delayed elections.

Analysts at Nomura estimate 46 cities are currently in full or partial lockdowns involving strict mobility restrictions on local residents, affecting the lives of 343 million people.

Nepal is putting a 21st-century spin on a tourism sector dominated by activities unchanged for generations as it looks to boost a vital part of an economy decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic and soaring import bills.

A Colombian judge on Wednesday dismissed a request by the attorney general's office to shelve a witness-tampering investigation against divisive former President Alvaro Uribe.

Oil prices edged lower in early Asian trade on Thursday as concerns about rising coronavirus cases in China, the world's biggest oil importer, weighed on futures markets.

Oil prices dropped on Thursday on caution about dwindling fuel demand in China, the world's biggest oil importer, due to the economic impact of COVID-19 restrictions.

Oil prices dipped but were trading in and out of positive territory on Thursday as investors weighed up tightening Russian supplies and the prospect of dwindling fuel demand in China.

Oil prices steadied after trading in and out of positive territory on Thursday as investors weighed up tightening Russian supplies and the prospect of slowing fuel demand in China.