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China blocks Meta's acquisition of AI firm Manus
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US woman speaks of ordeal in France Al-Fayed trafficking probe
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French teen faces jail in Singapore for licking vending machine straw
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Iran FM blames US for failure of talks after landing in Russia
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Teenage wonder Sooryavanshi says criticism 'affects me a bit'
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Japan startup seeks approval of cat kidney disease treatment
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Rockets thrash Lakers, Wembanyama triumphant on Spurs return
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ECB set to hold rates steady with eye on Iran crisis
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Team-first Kane propelling Bayern to glory as PSG showdown looms
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Pogacar vows to keep going until Seixas 'destroys' him
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From Adele to Raye, the UK school nurturing future stars
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Final talks begin on missing piece for pandemic treaty
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Oil rises, stocks swing as peace talk hopes wobble
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'Heartbroken' Xavi Simons out of World Cup and Spurs relegation fight
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North Korea's Kim reaffirms support for Russia's 'sacred' Ukraine war
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Spurs win in Wembanyama return to take 3-1 lead over Trail Blazers
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As some hijabs come off in Iran, restrictions still in place
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Orangutan uses Indonesia canopy bridge in 'world first': NGO
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Dealing with the dead in the ruins of Sudan's war
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North Korea strengthens nuclear push as US flails in Middle East
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Stage set for Elon Musk's court battle with OpenAI
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Caught between wars, US Afghan allies trapped in Qatar without safe exit
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British royals begin four-day US visit despite shooting
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Suspect in shooting at Trump press dinner to appear in court
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Macau Pass Unveils AI Payment Assistant to Upgrade Local Payment Capabilities
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InterContinental Hotels Group PLC Announces Transaction in Own Shares - April 27
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Fitzpatrick brothers capture PGA Tour's Zurich Classic pairs crown
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Spurs win in Wembanyama return to take 3-1 lead on Trail Blazers
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Toulouse fall to first home defeat for a year
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Global military spending surges on insecurity: report
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Marseille see Champions League chance slip further away
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Nelly Korda wins LPGA Chevron Championship
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Syrian court begins proceedings against Assad and allies
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Colombia road bombing death toll rises to 20
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Raptors top Cavs to pull level in NBA playoff series
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Iran minister heads to Russia as talks remain stalled
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Rinku stars as Kolkata edge Lucknow in Super Over
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T'Wolves Edwards to miss several weeks - report
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Michael Jackson biopic debuts atop N. America box office
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King Charles state visit to US to go on as planned after shooting
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Inter pegged back by Torino as Serie A title charge hits bump in road
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Mali junta in crisis after minister killed, key city 'captured'
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Dortmund down Freiburg to seal Champions League spot
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McFarlane hails Chelsea 'character' after FA Cup semi-final win
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Gunman sought to kill Trump, cabinet at gala dinner
Stocks diverge tracking US-China trade progress
European stock markets dipped Friday following solid gains in Asia as investors reacted to fresh optimism over US-China trade relations and as they awaited US inflation data delayed by a government shutdown.
The White House confirmed President Donald Trump would meet China's Xi Jinping next week, stoking optimism for a cooling of trade tensions between the economic superpowers.
Gains for Asian equities, which followed a strong performance Thursday on Wall Street, came as a surge in oil prices sputtered.
Crude futures soared this week after Washington imposed sanctions on two Russian oil giants in a bid to bring an end to the Ukraine war.
"News on trade is supporting risk sentiment across the board into the weekend," noted Neil Wilson, UK investor strategist at Saxo Markets.
"But given this is Trump and brinkmanship goes hand in glove with showmanship, talks with Xi could go either way.
"And indeed the trade picture is not so optimistic everywhere we look. The Canadian dollar fell after Trump said he would halt all trade negotiations with the country," Wilson added.
European stock markets were lower despite positive data on the business activity in the eurozone and Britain, as investors booked profits heading into the weekend break.
Investors were keenly awaiting Friday's release of US consumer price data, which has been delayed by the government shutdown in Washington.
Ahead of the data, markets widely expected the Federal Reserve to cut US interest rates when it meets next week.
The rouble showed little reaction after Russia's central bank on Friday had cut its key interest rate to 16.5 percent.
It added that the country's growth had slowed to almost zero, as the economy sags under the cost of the Ukraine offensive and Western sanctions.
- Key figures at around 1000 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.1 percent at 9,566.70 points
Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.5 percent at 8,185.64
Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.1 percent at 24,192.33
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.4 percent at 49,299.65 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.7 percent at 25,160.15 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.7 percent at 3,950.31 (close)
New York - Dow: UP 0.3 percent at 46,734.61 (close)
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1616 from $1.1615 on Thursday
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3320 from $1.3323
Dollar/yen: UP at 152.95 from 152.60 yen
Euro/pound: UP at 87.21 pence from 87.18 pence
Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.1 percent at $66.04 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.1 percent at $61.82 per barrel
burs-bcp/rl
M.Thompson--AMWN