London markets rise as Gaza ceasefire ends

The FTSE 100 and other European markets rose on Tuesday amid rising tensions in the Middle East. Israeli air strikes resulted in the deaths of 330 people, ending a truce that had been in place since January. These events followed failed negotiations to extend the ceasefire. Commodity-related stocks, oil, and gold saw price increases in reaction to the news. The FTSE 100 gained 0.4% after the market opened. Notable winners included mining companies like Anglo American, Antofagasta, and Glencore, along with oil giant BP. In Germany, the DAX index climbed 0.8% ahead of the ZEW economic data release. The CAC 40 in Paris rose by 0.4%, while the broader STOXX 600 climbed 0.5%. In the United States, stock futures dipped slightly as investors awaited a two-day Federal Reserve meeting set to begin on Tuesday. China recently announced a plan to boost consumption, further influencing market sentiment. Meanwhile, Nvidia stock futures rose 0.7% ahead of the company’s annual GTC conference, starting on March 18. CEO Jensen Huang is expected to unveil new AI technologies during the event. Gold prices approached an all-time high of $3,000 due to increased demand driven by market volatility. U.S. stock futures saw declines following two days of gains as traders prepared for the Federal Reserve's policy announcements. The central bank is widely expected to keep interest rates steady during this meeting. Today's key financial updates include UK consumer price data and the German ZEW economic survey.