Stock markets waver as Nvidia, Ukraine tensions urge caution

Stock markets were little changed in Europe and on Wall Street Thursday after Ukraine claimed that Moscow fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, ratcheting up fears of further escalation in the war on Europe’s doorstep.Quarterly earnings from the AI chip giant Nvidia also gave investors reason for pause, failing to match the sky-high expectations of many analysts that might underpin further tech stock gains.But bitcoin resumed its march higher at around $97,000 on expectations that Donald Trump, spurred by cryptocurrency cheerleader Elon Musk, will bring it further into everyday use upon re-entering the White House in January.”Will Americans be able to use crypto to pay their taxes in future? There is a bigger possibility of this happening now than before the election,” said Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB.But the mood was decidedly more cautious in mainstream markets after this week’s developments in the Ukraine war, with the US and Britain authorising Kyiv to make long-distance strikes into Russia, prompting warnings of retaliation by Moscow.Ukraine’s claim Thursday that Moscow had fired an intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time in combat added to uncertainty over what might come next.Oil prices also rose “as geopolitical tensions outweighed concerns over rising US crude supplies”, said Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. “Geopolitical fears have also sent gold higher in recent sessions as investors look for some safety as Russia-Ukraine tensions escalate,” he added.Asian stocks had mostly fallen earlier Thursday under pressure from Nvidia’s earnings, though analysts said profit-taking was unlikely to dampen enthusiasm for the key AI player. “The negative market reaction to Nvidia’s results suggests investors are now focusing on the minutiae rather than the big picture,” said Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell.”That’s a natural evolution as the more people zoom in on a company, the more they learn about it, and the more granular detail they want.”Elsewhere on the corporate front, shares in Indian conglomerate Adani Group tanked after US prosecutors charged its owner Gautam Adani with handing out more than $250 million in bribes for key contracts.Flagship operation Adani Enterprises dived almost 20 percent, while several of its subsidiaries — from coal to media businesses — lost 10 to 20 percent. – Key figures around 1455 GMT -New York – Dow: UP 0.2 percent at 43,489.58 pointsNew York – S&P 500: DOWN 0.1 percent at 5,907.37New York – Nasdaq: DOWN 0.4 percent at 18,887.91London – FTSE 100: UP 0.5 percent at 8,123.38Paris – CAC 40: DOWN 0.1 percent at 7,190.62Frankfurt – DAX: UP 0.3 percent at 19,065.93Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.9 percent at 38,026.17 (close)Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.5 percent at 19,601.11 (close)Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 3,370.40 (close)Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0531 from $1.0545 on WednesdayPound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2632 from $1.2652Dollar/yen: DOWN at 154.09 yen from 155.45 yenEuro/pound: UP at 83.38 pence from 83.33 penceBrent North Sea Crude: UP 1.3 percent at $74.07 per barrelWest Texas Intermediate: UP 1.3 percent at $70.04 per barrel    

Kenya scraps Adani deals as Ruto attempts to reset presidencyThu, 21 Nov 2024 14:56:56 GMT

Kenyan President William Ruto sought Thursday to turn the page on a difficult year, cancelling controversial deals with India’s Adani Group and vowing to tackle corruption, police kidnappings and gender-based violence.With the country on edge over multiple issues, there was a heavy police presence around parliament in Nairobi ahead of Ruto’s annual state of the …

Kenya scraps Adani deals as Ruto attempts to reset presidencyThu, 21 Nov 2024 14:56:56 GMT Read More »

Kenya scraps Adani deals as Ruto attempts to reset presidency

Kenyan President William Ruto sought Thursday to turn the page on a difficult year, cancelling controversial deals with India’s Adani Group and vowing to tackle corruption, police kidnappings and gender-based violence.With the country on edge over multiple issues, there was a heavy police presence around parliament in Nairobi ahead of Ruto’s annual state of the nation address.His speech did not shy away from the many controversies dogging his administration.The biggest shock was his announcement that India’s Adani Group would no longer be involved in plans to expand Kenya’s electricity network and its main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International.The Adani Group was to invest $1.85 billion in the Jomo Kenyatta airport and $736 million in state-owned utility KETRACO, despite claims of corruption in the procurement process.The final straw may have come when the Indian group’s founder Gautam Adani was charged in the United States on Wednesday with massive bribery and fraud.Ruto said his decision was based on “new information provided by investigative agencies and partner nations”.He also addressed the deep concern in Kenya over a spate of abductions by security forces following mass protests between June and August over an unpopular finance bill.Rights groups accuse the security forces of a brutal crackdown, with more than 60 people killed during the protests and dozens kidnapped in the following months, many of them tortured and some killed.Ruto said many of the detentions were legitimate actions against “criminals and subversive elements”. But he added: “I condemn any excessive or extrajudicial action which puts the life and liberty of any person at risk, including disappearances and threats to life.”He also addressed gender-based violence after reports that 97 women have been murdered in the last three months alone. To loud cheers from the women in parliament, Ruto called on all society to help raise boys “into morally upright men who will never need to affirm their masculinity at the expense of women”.- ‘Times are hard’ -Ruto won a hard-fought election in 2022 with a pitch to help the country’s poor.But large debts have left Kenya spending more on interest payments than health and education.While economic growth has remained relatively strong at 5.4 percent last year, a third of Kenya’s 52 million people live in poverty.”It is undeniable that for many Kenyans times are hard and the struggle to meet their basic daily needs is daunting,” Ruto said.But he listed a series of successes, including taming inflation — down from 9.6 percent to 2.7 percent over two years — stabilising the currency and increasing agricultural production. He also heralded a new health insurance scheme, which has been beset by technical difficulties since its launch last month, vowing that it would ultimately provide “accessible and affordable” healthcare across the country.Ruto came into his speech with an urgent need to reset his presidency after mounting criticism, including from church leaders, over abductions, the cost-of-living crisis and corruption.Recent weeks have also seen international condemnation over the forced extradition of foreign nationals kidnapped on Kenyan soil, including four Turkish refugees and the Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye.

Noël Le Graët retire sa plainte contre Amélie Oudéa-Castera qui ne sera pas jugée pour diffamation par la CJR

Noël Le Graët a retiré sa plainte pour diffamation contre l’ex-ministre des Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castera qui ne sera donc pas jugée comme prévu par la Cour de justice de la République (CJR), a indiqué jeudi à l’AFP Thierry Marembert, avocat de l’ancien patron du football français.L’ancienne ministre a annoncé elle-même sur X ce retrait de plainte : “Noël Le Graët a fait savoir à la CJR qu’il retirait sa plainte en diffamation contre moi. En cas de procès, il aurait eu à revenir devant la Cour sur les écarts répétés de langage et de comportement qui l’avaient conduit à démissionner de la Fédération française de football”, a écrit Mme Oudéa-Castera jeudi.”Comme à l’époque pour sa démission, il prend une sage décision pour lui comme pour la Fédération française de football (FFF)”, a encore lancé l’éphémère ministre de l’Education nationale, début 2024.Sollicité par l’AFP, Me Marembert a “confirmé le retrait de la plainte, qui date de mardi”.”La justice a tranché. Noël Le Graët s’est longuement expliqué, a été crû et a été innocenté”, a-t-il poursuivi.M. Le Graët a bénéficié le 17 octobre d’un classement du parquet de Paris pour infraction insuffisamment caractérisée, dans l’enquête pour harcèlement moral et sexuel ouverte 18 mois plus tôt et qui avait précipité la chute du “menhir” du football français.”Les Français n’ont pas besoin de Noël Le Graët pour se faire leur opinion de +AOC+”, telle qu’est surnommée l’ex-ministre, a cinglé Me Marembert. “Inutile de perdre du temps.” Son client “entend se consacrer à sa famille et au monde du football, ses deux grandes passions, à qui il a encore beaucoup à apporter”, a-t-il ajouté.Une source judiciaire a confirmé à l’AFP la réception par la CJR d’un courrier daté de mardi “émanant des conseils de M. Le Graët et faisant état de son intention de se désister de (sa) plainte en diffamation”. “Il appartiendra à la CJR de tirer les conséquences de ce désistement, s’il était confirmé, lors de l’audience qui s’ouvrira le 3 décembre” et qui était prévue pour durer jusqu’au lendemain, a ajouté cette source.Comme le prévoit le droit de la presse et sauf cas particuliers, le désistement du plaignant met procéduralement un terme à l’action engagée lorsqu’il est effectif.Après onze années de règne, entre succès sportifs, redressement économique et épilogue dans la tempête médiatique, M. Le Graët avait quitté la tête de la FFF fin février 2023 sous pression.Il avait été fragilisé par des déclarations maladroites sur l’icône Zinédine Zidane et surtout par des témoignages de femmes lui imputant un comportement inapproprié, notamment à travers des “SMS ambigus pour certains et à caractère clairement sexuel pour d’autres”. Des accusations que M. Le Graët niait farouchement.

Libya’s Derna hosts theatre festival year after flash floodThu, 21 Nov 2024 13:26:57 GMT

A year after a flash flood ripped through Derna and killed thousands of people, the coastal Libyan city is hosting a theatre festival with a message of hope.The city in the war-torn country’s east is still reeling from the flooding that destroyed historic buildings, including Libya’s oldest theatre where the festival was held in previous …

Libya’s Derna hosts theatre festival year after flash floodThu, 21 Nov 2024 13:26:57 GMT Read More »

Historic gold regalia returned to Ghana’s kingThu, 21 Nov 2024 12:52:12 GMT

Ghana’s Asante king, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, will receive 28 historic gold ornaments and regalia this weekend, in the latest major restoration of cultural treasures to the West African country. The objects, dating to the 19th century, are symbols of governance, chiefship and royal heritage. Originally crafted by Asante court artisans, they include swords, linguist staffs, palace …

Historic gold regalia returned to Ghana’s kingThu, 21 Nov 2024 12:52:12 GMT Read More »

Senegal election fans questions over influential PM’s future roleThu, 21 Nov 2024 12:42:51 GMT

With a president who owes his success to his mentor-turned-prime minister Ousmane Sonko, Senegal’s political situation was unusual even before last weekend’s snap parliamentary polls.Now, a projected legislative landslide masterminded by the highly influential and charismatic Sonko has amplified questions over what leadership role he should take in the West African country.Sonko propelled President Bassirou Diomaye …

Senegal election fans questions over influential PM’s future roleThu, 21 Nov 2024 12:42:51 GMT Read More »

Agriculteurs: la Coordination rurale bloque toujours le port de Bordeaux

La Coordination rurale (CR), principal syndicat agricole mobilisé sur le terrain jeudi, maintient son blocage du port de commerce de Bordeaux et la pression sur le gouvernement, dont la ministre de l’Agriculture visite une exploitation dans le Pas-de-Calais.La ministre Annie Genevard est arrivée peu avant 10H30 dans une exploitation d’endives à La Couture, première étape de son déplacement dans le Pas-de-Calais, sans s’exprimer immédiatement auprès de la presse sur place.Les panneaux d’entrée et de sortie du village et des alentours étaient barrés d’autocollants “Paraguay”, “Brésil” ou “Argentine”, en référence à l’accord de libre-échange UE-Mercosur en négociation avec ces pays d’Amérique latine et auquel les agriculteurs comme la classe politique française s’opposent.Il s’agit de la première visite de la ministre sur le terrain depuis le retour des paysans dans la rue, une mobilisation surtout marquée en fin de semaine par les actions des bonnets jaunes de la Coordination rurale.A Bordeaux, ils bloquent ainsi les accès au port et au dépôt pétrolier DPA: des pneus, des câbles et un tracteur entravent l’entrée du site. Sous une pluie battante, les agriculteurs s’abritent autour d’un feu et de deux barnums tanguant avec le vent. Une file de camions bloqués dont des camions citernes s’allonge aux abords. Les manifestants ont tenté dans la matinée de joindre Annie Genevard, sans succès.”On bloque tant que Mme Genevard et M. Barnier [Michel Barnier, Premier ministre] ne mettent pas en place des solutions pour la profession. Des choses structurelles, (…), on ne veut pas un peu d’argent aujourd’hui pour rentrer dans nos fermes, on veut des réformes pour vivre, avoir un salaire décent”, a déclaré à l’AFP Aurélie Armand, directrice de la CR du Lot-et-Garonne.”Le temps est avec nous parce que quand il pleut on ne peut pas travailler dans les fermes, donc c’est très bien”, a-t-elle lancé, alors qu’une pluie battante balaye la Gironde avec le passage de la tempête Caetano.Plus au sud, dans les Landes, des agriculteurs de la CR40 occupent toujours une centrale d’achat Leclerc à Mont-de-Marsan mais les autorités leur ont donné jusqu’à vendredi inclus pour libérer les lieux, a-t-on appris auprès de la préfecture. – Tassement du mouvement, avant une reprise -La préfète du département a par ailleurs condamné “les dégradations commises par des membres de la Coordination rurale” mercredi soir sur des sites de la Mutualité sociale agricole (MSA), visée par des dépôts sauvages, et de la Direction départementale des territoires et de la mer (DDTM), ciblée par un incendie “volontairement déclenché” dans son enceinte.Sur Europe1/Cnews, le ministre de l’Intérieur Bruno Retailleau a redit que les agriculteurs avaient “parfaitement le droit de manifester”, mais qu’il y avait “des lignes rouges” à ne pas dépasser: “pas d’enkystement”, “pas de blocage”.A l’autre bout de la France, à Strasbourg, des membres de la CR se sont installés dans le centre avec une dizaine de tracteurs pour y distribuer 600 kilos de pommes aux passants.”Nous, on propose un pacte avec le consommateur, c’est-à-dire lui fournir une alimentation de qualité en quantité suffisante et en contrepartie, le consommateur nous paye un prix correct”, a souligné le président de la CR départementale, Paul Fritsch.Les autorités constatent une “légère baisse” de la mobilisation à l’échelle du pays par rapport au début de la semaine, quand les syndicats majoritaires FNSEA et JA étaient aussi sur le terrain.Ce nouvel épisode de manifestations agricoles intervient à quelques semaines d’élections professionnelles. La CR, qui préside aujourd’hui trois chambres d’agriculture, espère à cette occasion briser l’hégémonie de l’alliance FNSEA-JA et ravir “15 à 20 chambres” supplémentaires.Le président de la FNSEA Arnaud Rousseau a annoncé mercredi que les prochaines manifestations emmenées par ses membres auraient lieu la semaine prochaine, “mardi, mercredi et jeudi”, “pour dénoncer les entraves à l’agriculture”.FNSEA et JA avaient prévenu qu’ils se mobiliseraient jusqu’à la mi-décembre contre l’accord le Mercosur, contre les normes selon eux excessives et pour un meilleur revenu.Troisième syndicat représentatif, la Confédération paysanne organise aussi des actions ponctuelles, contre les traités de libre-échange ou les installations énergétiques sur les terres agricoles.

Stock markets diverge, as bitcoin closes in on $100,000

Major stock markets diverged and the dollar was mixed Thursday as traders weighed escalating tensions in the Russia-Ukraine war.Bitcoin extended its surge, as the world’s biggest cryptocurrency struck a record high of over $98,000.Oil prices rallied “as geopolitical tensions outweighed concerns over rising US crude supplies”, noted Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown. “Geopolitical fears have also sent gold higher in recent sessions… as investors look for some safety as Russia-Ukraine tensions escalate,” he added.Kyiv accused Russia of launching an intercontinental ballistic missile attack at Ukraine for the first time on Thursday but without a nuclear warhead in a new escalation of the conflict. Awaiting Wall Street’s reopening, Asian and European stock markets travelled in different directions as blockbuster earnings late Wednesday from US chip titan Nvidia smashed forecasts but fell short of investor hopes.A driver of artificial-intelligence transitioning by companies, Nvidia’s market value has rocketed 200 percent over the last year to become the world’s-richest company.But its stock fell in after-hours trading.”The negative market reaction to Nvidia’s results suggests investors are now focusing on the minutiae rather than the big picture,” noted Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell.”That’s a natural evolution as the more people zoom in on a company, the more they learn about it, and the more granular detail they want.”Elsewhere on the corporate front, shares in Indian conglomerate Adani Group tanked after US prosecutors charged its industrialist owner Gautam Adani with handing out more than $250 million in bribes for key contracts.Flagship operation Adani Enterprises dived almost 20 percent, while several of its subsidiaries — from coal to media businesses — lost between 10 and 20 percent. On the upside, bitcoin closed in on $100,000 having soared since Donald Trump was elected US president in early November.”The bitcoin boom shows no signs of slowing, with the crypto king… edging closer to the coveted six-figure milestone,” added analyst Britzman.Trump’s “return to the White House is fuelling hopes of a more crypto-friendly federal stance”, he said.- Key figures around 1100 GMT -London – FTSE 100: UP 0.2 percent at 8,101.90 pointsParis – CAC 40: DOWN 0.4 percent at 7,170.84Frankfurt – DAX: FLAT at 18,998.49Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.9 percent at 38,026.17 (close)Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.5 percent at 19,601.11 (close)Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 3,370.40 (close)New York – Dow: DOWN 0.3 percent at 43,408.47 (close)Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0521 from $1.0545 on WednesdayPound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2632 from $1.2652Dollar/yen: DOWN at 154.39 yen from 155.45 yenEuro/pound: DOWN at 83.28 pence from 83.33 penceBrent North Sea Crude: UP 1.7 percent at $74.06 per barrelWest Texas Intermediate: UP 1.9 percent at $70.02 per barrel   Â