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| - European stock markets were slightly firmer Wednesday as China-US tensions and fresh virus flare-ups offset another overnight record on Wall Street and hopes for a possible breakthrough in deadlocked US stimulus talks, dealers said. Oil was also in focus ahead of US stockpiles data and a virtual meeting of OPEC and its allies to discuss their recent output cuts after crude prices were shattered by a coronavirus-driven plunge in energy demand. The dollar, which Tuesday hit the lowest level against the euro in more than two years on the prospect of more huge US stimulus, remained under pressure awaiting the Federal Reserve's minutes from its latest policy meeting. "As for the oil market, traders are a bit cautious today because of the US crude inventory data" amid a supply glut, noted Naeem Aslam, chief market analyst at Avatrade. "Traders are also keeping an eye on the OPEC+ gathering." Upbeat US data meanwhile helped propel the S&P 500 on Tuesday to its first record since February while the Nasdaq pushed to an all-time high thanks to a surge in demand for tech stocks that are benefiting from lockdowns. The highs come amid a stalemate on Capitol Hill over a new US economic rescue package, with the Democrats' $2 trillion proposal double the size of that put forward by Republicans -- and both sides refusing to budge. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi provided a ray of hope by saying her party could be willing to make cuts to its offer to seal a deal, then return to thrash out other issues after November's elections. The $3.5 trillion package agreed earlier this year, combined with a wall of cash and loose monetary policies from the Federal Reserve, have helped US stock markets soar from their March troughs. Souring US-China relations also remain on traders' radars, with the latest salvo out of Washington coming in a warning to colleges and universities to sell any Chinese holdings in their endowments owing to proposed new rules that could see these firms de-listed. The announcement comes with the two superpowers locked in several stand-offs ranging from Hong Kong, trade and the coronavirus, and US accusations of digital espionage. There is also some trepidation about a trade pact signed between the two in January, which observers say is the crucial issue, with any sign that it could be in peril likely to spark another sharp market drop. But while talks on the deal were called off last weekend, there is a general feeling that both sides still want to keep it in place. London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 6,082.69 points Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 0.3 percent at 12,915.10 Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.1 percent at 4,943.86 EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.2 percent at 3,296.61 Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.2 percent at 23,110.61 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 1.2 percent at 3,408.13 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 0.7 percent at 25,178.91 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.2 percent at 3,389.78 (close Tuesday) New York - Nasdaq: UP 0.7 percent at 11,210.84 (close) New York - Dow: DOWN 0.2 percent at 27,778.07 (close) Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1937 from $1.1931 at 2100 GMT Dollar/yen: DOWN at 105.28 yen from 105.40 yen Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3221 from $1.3237 Euro/pound: UP at 90.26 pence from 90.11 pence West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.9 percent at $42.51 per barrel Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.9 percent at $45.04 per barrel dan-bcp/bmm
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