Sawt Falasteen - Stock markets rise as Fed set to hike rate

Central banks worldwide are tightening borrowing costs despite concerns such action could hamper financial recovery from the pandemic and even push major economies into recession.

The US central bank is expected to lift borrowing costs by half a percentage point for the first time since 2000.

With the increase widely forecast, investors will be closely looking for clues on the outlook for futures rate rises after consumer prices accelerated to 8.5 percent in March, the highest level in more than 40 years.

"The markets remain edgy, as the Fed is expected to be aggressive in this monetary policy tightening cycle," said analysts at Charles Schwab investment firm.

"Moreover, sentiment continues to be hampered by the ongoing war in Ukraine, the recent jump in interest rates, the continued rally in the US dollar, and the economic impact of the covid lockdowns in China," they wrote.

On Tuesday, the Reserve Bank of Australia lifted interest rates 25 basis points, the first hike since 2010 and by more than expected. Officials also indicated further increases were in the pipeline.

The move sent the Australian dollar briefly rallying more than one percent against the greenback before settling back slightly.

Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor, said the Bank of England is expected to announce another rate hike on Thursday to its highest level since 2009.

Wall Street was up in midday trading, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average 0.7 percent higher, the S&P 500 gaining one percent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq rising by 0.6 percent.

European markets finished higher, with London up 0.2 percent, Paris adding 0.8 percent and Frankfurt gaining 07 percent following sharp losses Monday.

Traders continued to pore over earnings results from some of the world's biggest companies.

US drug maker Pfizer reported a 77-percent jump in first quarter revenue thanks to its Covid vaccine, though it lowered its full-year profit forecast due in part of shifts in foreign exchange.

- Oil down -

British energy giant BP said its decision to pull out of Russia as a result of the war in Ukraine pushed it deep into the red in the first three months of this year.

But its underlying performance was strong thanks to a recent surge in oil and gas prices.

On Tuesday, crude futures declined ahead of a regular meeting this week of OPEC+.

The body comprising the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries plus Russia and other oil-producing nations must decide on output policy amid tight supply fears triggered by the Ukraine war.

The European Union is preparing a Russian oil embargo but some countries highly dependent on Moscow's crude are seeking opt-outs from the possible ban.

China's strict Covid lockdown has weighed on crude prices due to concerns about demand in the world's top importer of oil.

- Key figures at around 1600 GMT -

New York - Dow: UP 0.7 percent at 33,306.99 points

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.2 percent at 7,561.33 (close)

Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.7 percent at 14,039.47 (close)

Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.8 percent at 6,476.18 (close)

EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.8 percent at 3,761.19

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.1 percent at 21,101.89 (close)

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: Closed for a holiday

Shanghai - Composite: Closed for a holiday

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0519 from $1.0506 on Monday

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2498 from $1.2489

Euro/pound: UP at 84.16 pence from 84.09 pence

Dollar/yen: UP at 130.17 yen from 130.16 yen

Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 1.1 percent at $106.37 per barrel

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.3 percent at $103.82 per barrel

E.Aziz--SF-PST