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☆ Ukraine and Russia say they want the war to end. But military and political experts say they're nowhere near peace talks
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Fighting remains intense in southern and eastern Ukraine, where Russian units are deeply entrenched, preventing Ukraine's forces from making significant advances. They note that neither Russia nor Ukraine seems to be at a point where a political resolution is palatable, however. 'Red lines' firmly drawnBoth Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly said they want the war to end — but on their terms. For its part, the Kremlin said in December that it saw no current basis for peace talks, and called Kyiv's peace plan an "absurd process" as it excluded Russia. One big stumbling block in any potential peace talks now is their respective positions on territorial integrity.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, It's, Sam Greene, Pierre Crom, Stephen Twitty, Vladimir Putin, Sam Cranny, Evans, Putin, there's, Zelenskyy, Mario Bikarski, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, Bill Clark Organizations: Anadolu, Getty, Economic, King's College London, CNBC, U.S, Army, U.S . European Command, Economic Forum, Royal United Services Institute, Kremlin, Kherson —, Anadolu Agency, CIS, Senators, Capitol, Cq, Inc Locations: Kharkiv, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russia, Switzerland, Davos, Kyiv, Malta, China, Crimea, Avdiivka, Europe, Moscow, Russian, Estonia, Belarus, Turkey, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Ky

European markets closed lower Thursday after U.S. inflation came in above expectations. After a choppy session, the regional Stoxx 600 index finished 0.77% lower, with all sectors in the red. December's U.S. inflation report showed an increase in consumer prices of 0.3% on the month and 3.4% year-on-year. "While the critical core inflation measure, which strips out volatile items such as food and energy, continues to ease from its highs, the downward trend in this measure also appears to have stalled. U.S. stocks also turned lower on Thursday morning as Wall Street digested the inflation data and the start of the fourth-quarter earnings season.

Persons: Spencer, Dow Jones, Matthew Ryan Organizations: Bank, Marks, Tesco, Investors, Federal Reserve, Nikkei Locations: U.S, Asia

European markets dipped for a second straight session on Wednesday, as last year's rally continues to stutter. The Stoxx 600 index provisionally closed 0.17% lower, with sectors trading in mixed territory. Mining stocks remained one of the week's worst performers, down 1.07%, while media stocks rose 0.75%. Asia-Pacific markets mostly turned lower overnight, although Japan stocks extended gains after notching a 33-year high in the previous session. In recent weeks, traders have boosted their bets on a Federal Reserve pivot, bracing for rate cuts as soon as March.

Organizations: Federal Reserve, Group Locations: Asia, Pacific, Japan, U.S

European markets retreated on Tuesday, reversing earlier gains and extending their gloomy start to the new trading year. The Stoxx 600 index provisionally closed 0.17% lower, with most sectors and major bourses in negative territory. Mining stocks led the losses, down 1.35%, while health-care stocks ticked 0.69% higher. December's consumer price index is due to be released Thursday, while the producer price index is due out on Friday. U.S. stocks fell Tuesday morning, after the major averages popped to start the week.

Organizations: Global, Federal Reserve Locations: Asia, Pacific

European markets turned positive Monday, shaking off the negative sentiment seen at the start of trading in 2024. The Stoxx 600 index closed 0.34% higher, having slumped during morning trade. Technology and retail stocks both rose 1.23% to lead gains. Oil and gas stocks meanwhile dropped 1.55% after Saudi Arabia announced price cuts to customers in Asia, and Shell said its upcoming fourth-quarter results would contain impairment charges of up to $4.5 billion.

Persons: Shell Organizations: Technology Locations: Saudi Arabia, Asia

☆ European markets head for mixed open as rally stalls
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

European markets are heading for a mixed open Tuesday as investors continue to assess the outlook for central bank interest rate cuts. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average in November enjoyed its best month since October 2022. The upward momentum continued despite Fed Chair Jerome Powell's efforts to temper market expectations for incoming rate cuts, as he argued it was "premature to conclude with confidence" that monetary policy was "sufficiently restrictive." Overnight, Asia-Pacific markets fell across the board as investors assessed a slew of economic data from across the region. U.S. stock futures ticked down Monday night after the major averages took a break from their latest hot streak.

Persons: Jerome Powell's Organizations: U.S . Federal, Dow Jones Locations: Asia, Pacific, U.S

☆ Ukraine signals a shift toward defense as analysts ask whether 'failed counteroffensive' is over
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Ukraine signaled Monday that it is shifting its military tactics toward a more defensive footing after an analysis of Russia's resource capabilities and as winter approaches. Resources will be directed to increasing domestic arms production, he said, and speeding up negotiations with allies to increase equipment supplies for the "new stage" of Ukraine's offensive operations, he said. Zelenskyy also signaled last week that the fortification of all front lines needed to be accelerated. The shift has prompted some analysts to question whether the change reflects that Ukraine's counteroffensive, launched back in June but failing to make as much progress as hoped, is over. Eurasia Group founder and president Ian Bremmer commented Monday that "Ukrainians have shifted to building defensive fortifications, putting an end to the failed counteroffensive."

Persons: Mykhailo Podolyak, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Ian Bremmer Organizations: Eurasia Group, Institute for Locations: Ukraine, Russian

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Baby among civilians injured in missile strikes on Ukraine; Russia causes a stir at security summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Moscow's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov both blamed the West for creating global insecurity and instability. The U.S. and its allies are seeking simultaneously to keep the OSCE alive and hold Russia to account for its invasion of Ukraine. The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said he understood unease about Lavrov attending the meeting in Skopje, North Macedonia. But he said it was a chance for Lavrov to hear broad condemnation of Russia's war in Ukraine. Estonia had been due to take over the annually rotating OSCE chairmanship but Russia blocked it for months.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Sergei Lavrov, Russia's Sergei Lavrov, Margus Tsahkna, Lavrov, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Dimitar Kovacevski, — Organizations: Organization for Security, Cooperation, Baltic, OSCE, Soviet, NATO, Tass, Russian, North Macedonia's, Kremlin Locations: Moscow's, Ukraine, U.S, Russia, Estonian, Brussels, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Skopje, North Macedonia, Malta

☆ European markets open higher ahead of euro zone inflation data
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

European markets opened higher Thursday, with regional investors keeping a close eye on the release of preliminary euro zone inflation data for November. Earlier on Thursday, economic data showed that French inflation slowed to 3.4% on an annual basis in November, down from the October reading of 4%. European markets had closed higher Wednesday after data released in the afternoon showed German inflation eased to 2.3% in November, significantly more than the 2.6% forecast in a Reuters poll. European markets are also keeping a close eye on the COP28 climate summit that begins Thursday and the OPEC+ meeting of major oil producers. Elsewhere Thursday, final third-quarter gross domestic product data for France is also due, as are German unemployment figures for November.

Organizations: Organization of Petroleum Locations: London, OPEC, Russia, France

☆ European stocks head for mixed open, struggling to build positive momentum
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

European stocks are heading for a mixed open Wednesday as regional markets struggle to build positive momentum and assess comments from the U.S. Federal Reserve board members. On Tuesday, Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said he was growing more confident that policy was in a place now to bring inflation back under control. Waller also said the Fed might start lowering rates if inflation continues to ease over the next three to five months. U.S. stock futures ticked up on Tuesday night, as investors held out hope that the Federal Reserve is done raising benchmark interest rates. Asia-Pacific markets largely fell overnight, led by losses in Hong Kong.

Persons: Christopher Waller, Waller Organizations: U.S . Federal Reserve, Federal Locations: Asia, Pacific, Hong Kong

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Russia slams Finland's border closure, warns that tensions could arise if troops are deployed
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - OCTOBER 30: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY MANDATORY CREDIT - " KREMLIN PRESS OFFICE / HANDOUT" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) meets Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban (R) in Budapest, Hungary on October 30, 2019. (Photo by Kremlin Press Office / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)Hungary's foreign minister told CNBC on Tuesday that Budapest would never deliver weapons to Ukraine to help it fight Russia's invasion, saying Hungary wanted peace in the region. That same day, Finland's foreign minister announced a complete border closure with Russia. It said this "instrumentalized migration," posing "a serious threat to national security and public order." Russia denies the allegations and is yet to respond to the entire border closure.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Viktor Orban Organizations: NATO, Kremlin Press, Anadolu Agency, Getty, CNBC, Russia Locations: Brussels, Kyiv, Russia, Ukraine, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, Budapest, Hungary, Moscow

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Winter storms batter Russia and Ukraine, wreaking havoc, death and destruction ... but war continues
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

NATO's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told CNBC it would be a "tragedy" for Ukrainians if Russian President Vladimir Putin wins the war. Therefore we will be more vulnerable if President Putin wins so it's in our security interests to support Ukraine," he told CNBC's Silvia Amaro in Brussels. Concerns have grown recently that public support for continued military funding for Ukraine has declined. Stoltenberg said bipartisan support for Ukraine remained strong in the U.S., despite some rumblings of Republican discontent over military aid. "I'm absolutely confident that the United States understands that it's dangerous for the United States if President Putin wins in Ukraine," he said.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, Vladimir Putin, Stoltenberg, Putin, CNBC's Silvia Amaro, — Holly Ellyatt Organizations: CNBC, Kyiv, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Moscow, Beijing, Brussels, Europe, U.S, United States

☆ European stocks head for flat open as markets struggle to find momentum
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Barclays has identified European stocks that are most at risk of taking a hit to profits over rising interest payments for debt over the next two years. During the coronavirus pandemic, central banks cut interest rates to historic lows, enabling companies to borrow debt at very favorable rates. However, refinancing has now become far more difficult as rates have surged and are expected to stay elevated through 2025. The Wall Street bank believes refinancing debt at higher rates could dent earnings by 3% to 5% over the next two years, impacting stocks. CNBC Pro subscribers can read more about the stocks identified here.

Persons: — Ganesh Rao Organizations: Barclays, CNBC

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Drone warfare rages as Moscow and Kyiv attack each other; Putin says globalization is in 'deep crisis'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Drone warfare has intensified between Russia and Ukraine over the weekend, with both sides targeting each other's capital cities with dozens of drones. Russian authorities claimed Sunday that Ukraine had targeted Moscow with dozens of drones on Saturday night, just hours after Russia launched its most intense drone attack on Kyiv since the beginning of its full-scale war in 2022, Ukrainian officials said. The alleged attacks came a day after Russia targeted the Ukrainian capital Kyiv with over 60 Iranian-made Shahed drones. The attack began hitting different districts of Kyiv in the early hours of the morning, with more waves coming as the sun came up, Reuters reported. In other news, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the model of globalization created by Western countries has outlived its usefulness.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, — Organizations: Sunday, Russia, Russian Defense Ministry, Reuters Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Kyiv, Russian

☆ Ukraine's push into Russian-occupied territory was bold — but a breakthrough is far from guaranteed
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ukrainian servicemen board a boat on the shore of the Dnipro river at the front line near Kherson, Ukraine, on Oct. 15, 2023. Following the confirmation that Ukrainian forces had crossed the Dnieper river into Russian-occupied territory in recent weeks, hopes have risen that this could be a small but key breakthrough in the six-month counteroffensive against Russia. The Dnieper has effectively operated as a front line in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson, separating Ukrainian troops on the west bank from Russian forces on the east, or left, bank. Russian forces had retreated to the east bank last year following an earlier counteroffensive by Ukraine that left the Kherson region — strategically important given its location above Russian-annexed Crimea — partially occupied. "The left-bank [of the Dnieper river] in Kherson is very important because it's near to Crimea," Oleksandr Musiyenko, a Ukrainian military expert and head of the Centre for Military and Legal Studies in Kyiv, told CNBC.

Persons: Oleksandr Musiyenko, Musiyenko Organizations: Crimea —, Centre for Military, Legal Studies, CNBC Locations: Dnipro, Kherson, Ukraine, Russian, Russia, Ukrainian, Crimea, Kyiv

☆ European markets set to start the week on a somber note
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

European markets are heading for a negative start to the new trading week, days after the region's Stoxx 600 index reached its highest level since Sept. 20. Asia-Pacific markets started the week largely lower, with Chinese markets dragged by property stocks and Japan's service inflation surging to a 45-month high. U.S. stock futures dipped on Sunday evening as Wall Street looks to build on four straight positive weeks for the equity market. Wall Street is coming off the fourth-straight winning week for all three major averages, as stocks have rallied since the 10-year Treasury yield retreated from the 5% mark it briefly topped in late October.

Organizations: Treasury Locations: Asia, Pacific

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Putin's peace talk comments send a signal to the West; Kremlin says Europe poses a threat to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin's comments on Wednesday — in which he blamed Ukraine for the lack of peace talks and claimed Russia was ready for discussions to resume — were designed to pile pressure on the West to push Ukraine back to the negotiating table, analysts said. They noted that Putin and other Russian officials have routinely claimed the Kremlin is ready to negotiate to end the war while signaling that the Kremlin maintains its key objectives, including territorial claims and regime change in Ukraine. In other news, Finland is to close all but the most northern border crossing point with Russia in an effort to halt asylum seekers traveling to the country. It claims Russia is encouraging migrants to travel to the border. Moscow denies the allegation.

Persons: Vladimir Putin's, Putin Organizations: Kremlin Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Finland, Moscow

☆ European markets head for mixed open ahead of euro zone business activity data
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

European markets are heading for a mixed open Thursday, echoing sentiment in the Asia-Pacific region overnight. Investors in Europe will be keeping an eye on preliminary purchasing managers' index data from the euro zone for November for the latest indication of economic activity in the services and construction sectors. Markets will also be keeping an eye on Dutch election results after an exit poll showed right-wing populist Geert Wilders to be on track for a dramatic victory with his Freedom Party, the PVV. In other news, U.S. stocks rose Wednesday after the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield briefly fell to its lowest level in two months and the November market rally broadened into the Thanksgiving holiday.

Persons: Geert Wilders Organizations: Investors, Freedom Party, Treasury Locations: Asia, Pacific, Europe

☆ European stocks head for higher open as markets digest Fed minutes
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

European stocks are heading for a positive open Wednesday as markets digest the latest minutes from the U.S. Federal Reserve's Oct. 31 meeting. They revealed that policy officials maintained that monetary policy has to be restrictive and that they have little appetite for rate cuts. "In discussing the policy outlook, participants continued to judge that it was critical that the stance of monetary policy be kept sufficiently restrictive to return inflation to the Committee's 2 percent objective over time," the minutes said. The federal funds rate currently stands at 5.25%-5.5%. Asia-Pacific markets were mixed overnight, while Nasdaq 100 futures were lower Tuesday night, as Wall Street assessed chip giant Nvidia's latest earnings.

Organizations: U.S, U.S . Federal, Nasdaq, Wall Locations: U.S ., Asia, Pacific

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Moscow claims Ukraine is seeing 'colossal losses' after crossing river into Russian-occupied territory
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ukrainian and Russian forces continue to conduct offensive operations in the east and south of the country despite rainy and snowy weather conditions, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War noted Tuesday. The ISW also noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the need to strengthen Ukrainian capabilities before winter during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Monday. So-called "milbloggers" have also been commenting on deteriorating weather conditions. Milbloggers have become a key feature of the Russian pro-war information space, although some have been critical of the defense ministry and its war strategy. "Russian milbloggers also claimed that muddy conditions are complicating vehicle movements but that both Ukrainian and Russian forces continue to maneuver and operate in all directions," it said.

Persons: Lyman, Serhiy Khlan, Nadiya Zamryha, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Defense Lloyd Austin, Russian milbloggers, Holly Ellyatt Organizations: 21st Mechanized Brigade, Institute for, Ukrainian 14th Mechanized Brigade, U.S, Defense Locations: Ukrainian, Donetsk, Russian, Kherson Oblast, Kherson, Kharkiv, Ukraine

☆ European markets head for mixed open as sentiment falters
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Jeremy Hunt on the second day of the Conservative Party Conference on Oct. 2, 2023, in Manchester, England. U.K. public sector net borrowing excluding banks was £14.9 billion ($18.68 billion) in October, the second-highest level of borrowing for the month since records began in 1993. It was also higher than consensus forecasts and a March forecast by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility of £13.7 billion. Tax receipts were £2.7 billion higher year on year at £57.9 billion. It comes ahead of a government budget update Wednesday in which Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt may announce tax cuts as he seeks to prioritize growth, according to the BBC.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Ruth Gregory, Hunt, Gregory said, Gregory, Lindsay James, — Jenni Reid Organizations: Conservative Party Conference, Capital Economics, Quilter Investors Locations: Manchester, England

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Russia says co-existence not possible with Ukraine’s current ‘regime’; Kyiv marks uprising anniversary
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Nov. 21 marks the beginning of pro-European mass protests in Ukraine in 2013 that led to the "Maidan" revolution in February 2014 and the ousting of Ukraine's then pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovich. The Kremlin described Ukraine's 2014 revolution, which Kyiv is commemorating on Tuesday, as a foreign-sponsored coup. Anti-government protesters guard the perimeter of Independence Square, known as Maidan, on Feb. 19, 2014, in Kyiv, Ukraine. "The fact that it was sponsored from abroad has been acknowledged, directly and indirectly, by representatives of foreign countries. The 2014 Maidan revolution marked a more definite split with Russia which, shortly afterward, invaded and annexed Crimea.

Persons: Ukraine's, Viktor Yanukovich, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, — Holly Ellyatt Organizations: Kyiv, Tass Locations: Ukraine, Independence, Kyiv, Russia, Crimea

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Russia says it's 'destroying' Ukrainians that crossed into occupied territory, vowing to inflict 'hell' on them
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Russian forces say they are inflicting heavy losses on Ukrainian troops that crossed over the Dnieper River to the Russian-occupied eastern bank. Russia confirmed that Ukrainian units had crossed the Dnieper and conceded that its forces had initially been outnumbered. Since then, however, it has warned it had brought in additional forces and that it would inflict "hell" on Ukrainian units. Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-installed governor of the occupied part of the Kherson region, said Russian forces were pounding Ukrainian positions on Thursday. Saldo claimed yesterday that Ukrainian forces were blocked in the village of Krynky where "a fiery hell" awaited them.

Persons: Vladimir Saldo, Saldo Organizations: CNBC Locations: Russia, Krynky, Russian, Kherson, Ukrainian

European markets pulled back slightly on Thursday, reversing positive sentiment seen earlier in the week after the release of positive data from the U.S. and China. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was down 0.2% in early trade, with chemicals shedding 0.7% to lead losses while utilities gained 0.6%. And there was upbeat economic data from China, which reported better-than-expected retail sales and industrial data for October. In other news, U.S. President Joe Biden and China's President Xi Jinping met in person in San Francisco on Wednesday, marking the first meeting of the leaders in about a year. The leaders agreed to resume high-level military communication, according to both countries, but Taiwan remains a sticking point.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping Organizations: Federal Reserve Locations: U.S, China, San Francisco, Taiwan

☆ European stocks climb as markets assess U.S., China data
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

European markets were higher on Wednesday as global markets digested data out of the U.S. and China. The October consumer price index was flat month over month, while the core CPI — which excludes volatile food and energy prices — rose 0.2%. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones were expecting a 0.1% monthly rise in CPI, and 0.3% in core CPI. Overnight, Hong Kong stocks led Asia-Pacific markets higher after upbeat economic data from China, which reported better-than-expected retail sales and industrial data for October. In other news, U.S. President Joe Biden and China's President Xi Jinping are expected to meet in person in San Francisco on Wednesday, marking the first meeting of the leaders in about a year.

Persons: Dow Jones, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping Organizations: U.S . Federal Reserve Locations: China, Hong Kong, Asia, Pacific, San Francisco

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