In European Equity Markets the pan-European Stoxx 600 was 0.3% lower at the closing bell. Travel and leisure stocks led losses, ending the session more than 1% lower, while the China-exposed basic resources sector was 0.4% lower. Shares of Britain’s Micro Focus jumped 4.8% after the software company said it expects its full-year revenue and profit to be in line with existing guidance. Italy’s Nexi climbed 5% after Italian media reported that Intesa Sanapaolo is in talks over a strategic partnership with the bank. British home improvement retailer Kingfisher fell 6% after reporting a fall in third-quarter like-for-like sales.

In Currency Markets sterling fell for the second straight day on Wednesday, dented by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s better-than-expected showing in a pre-election TV debate versus Prime Minister Boris Johnson who is perceived by markets as more business-friendly. The currency also inched to a one-week low against the euro, though it remains not far from six-month highs given opinion polls show Johnson’s Conservative Party still in with a hefty lead of as much as 18 percentage points before the Dec. 12 election. The pound was last down 0.1% at $1.2913, having weakened to a five-day low of $1.2888 against a generally firmer U.S. currency.

In Commodities Markets oil prices rose more than 2% on Wednesday after a better-than-expected U.S. crude inventories report and as Russia said it would continue its cooperation with OPEC to keep the global oil market balanced. Brent crude futures were up $1.42, or 2.3%, to $62.33 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate crude futures gained $1.41, or 2.6%, to $56.62 a barrel. U.S. crude oil stocks grew by 1.4 million barrels last week, the Energy Information Administration said, compared with analysts’ expectations for 1.5 million-barrel build and the 6 million-barrel build reported by the American Petroleum Institute late Tuesday.

In US Equity Markets indices edged lower on Wednesday, as hopes of a trade deal receded following an escalation in tensions between Washington and Beijing that also overshadowed upbeat forecasts from retailers Target and Lowe’s. The S&P 500 was down 0.19%, at 3,114.27 and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.11%, at 8,561.28. The communications services and energy sectors were the other big decliners, while the trade-sensitive Philadelphia Semiconductor index fell 0.7%. Among other stocks, apparel retailer Urban Outfitters Inc fell 14% after missing quarterly sales estimates on weaker demand for its namesake brand.

In Bond Markets U.S. long-dated yields fell to three-week lows on Wednesday, weighed down by renewed anxiety about trade talks with China after the U.S. Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed legislation aimed at protecting human rights in Hong Kong. U.S. 10-year and 30-year yields have fallen in six of the last seven sessions, while two-year yields dropped to two-week lows. U.S. 10-year note yields fell to a three-week low at 1.728%. They were last down at 1.756%, from 1.786% late on Tuesday. Yields on 30-year bonds also slid to three-week troughs of 2.192%, last changing hands at 2.223%, down from 2.256% Monday.