Global Markets Waver Amid Ukraine Tensions and Leadership Changes

European stocks fell as the escalation of the Ukraine war, including Ukraine's use of US-made long-range missiles and Russian President Putin's decree on nuclear weapons, unsettled markets. The Stoxx Europe 600 index dropped 0.5%, with Germany's Dax and France's Cac 40 both losing 0.7%. In contrast, US markets showed resilience, with the S&P 500 rising slightly and the Nasdaq gaining 0.6%, driven by tech stocks like Nvidia. Investors sought safe havens, boosting defense stocks and assets like gold and the Japanese yen.