San Francisco Frontiers - Europe stocks rebound; nickel strikes record above $100,000

Frankfurt won 1.1 percent and Paris added 1.4 percent in early afternoon eurozone deals, despite Asian losses.

London stocks rose by just 0.3 percent at midday, with sentiment dented by Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

The London Metal Exchange suspended trade in nickel after the base metal spiked to a record $101,365 per tonne as Russian supply concerns sparked sharp volatility.

Oil prices gained ground but held below Monday's peaks.

- 'Pause for breath' -

"Stocks across Europe are mostly rising, as the bears pause for breath," said City Index analyst Fiona Cincotta.

"Broadly speaking, the mood in the market has improved today as headlines from eastern Europe have slowed."

Asian markets however fell further Tuesday as investors try to assess the impact of the Ukraine war on the world economy.

As Russia's invasion of its neighbour continues, commodity prices have been sent to record or multi-year highs, forcing observers to re-evaluate their outlook for the global recovery.

Monday's session saw a sea of red after the United States said it was considering banning the import of crude from Russia, the world's number three producer, sending the price of Brent to almost $140 for the first time since 2008.

While the black gold eased back slightly from that peak, it remains elevated.

Europe was not so keen on the US idea, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz saying Russian oil and gas are of "essential importance" to the continent's economy.

Roughly 40 percent of European Union gas imports and one quarter of its oil come from Russia.

Meanwhile, Moscow warned that in retaliation for strict sanctions imposed on it for the invasion, it could cut off natural gas supplies to Europe via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline.

European gas prices hit records Monday, while other commodities sourced from Ukraine and Russia also rallied, with wheat also at an all-time high.

- Stagflation -

The Ukraine crisis comes just as uncertainty was rising owing to surging prices caused by a spike in demand for oil, tight supplies and pandemic-induced supply chain snarls, among other things.

Markets remain fearful of stagflation -- a vicious mixture of low economic growth and elevated inflation.

"There are fears we are heading for a period of stagflation in the eurozone given the energy crunch and the region's exposure to Russia," noted ThinkMarkets analyst Fawad Razaqzada.

Europe gas reference Dutch TTF sank 12 percent to 199.35 euros per megawatt hour on Tuesday, one day after striking a record 345 euros.

- Key figures around 1200 GMT -

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.3 percent at 6,978.27 points

Frankfurt - DAX: UP 1.1 percent at 12,977.64

Paris - CAC 40: UP 1.4 percent at 6,067.93

EURO STOXX 50: UP 1.2 percent at 3,554.93

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.7 percent at 25,790.95 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.4 percent at 20,765.87 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 2.4 percent at 3,293.53 (close)

New York - Dow: DOWN 2.4 percent at 32,817.38 (close)

Brent North Sea crude: UP 3.3 percent at $127.32 per barrel

West Texas Intermediate: UP 2.9 percent at $122.83

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0905 from $1.0854 Monday

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3125 from $1.3104

Euro/pound: UP at 83.10 pence from 82.83 pence

Dollar/yen: UP at 115.63 yen from 115.32 yen

burs-rfj/yad

I.Wright--SFF