Stock Markets Upbeat as Wall Street Scales New Heights

European stock markets advanced solidly Wednesday as Wall Street set new all-time highs, although Madrid lagged after Spain threatened to suspend Catalonia's autonomy.

Analysts cited strong IBM results as the main driving factor for the Dow, which established itself comfortably above the 23,000 level a day after breaching it for the first time.

"U.S. stocks are moving higher in early action, with Dow member IBM's upbeat earnings report and sales outlook bolstering the Dow," said analysts at the Charles Schwab brokerage.

Europe's main markets were all close to 0.5 percent stronger on the day, but Madrid flatlined amid political trouble around Catalonia.

Spain said Wednesday it would take the unprecedented step of seeking to suspend Catalonia's autonomy if the region's leader does not abandon his independence bid, on the eve of his deadline to give a final answer.

Analysts said investors were also focused on London which was digesting data showing British unemployment sticking to a 42-year low point.

- UK's rate guessing game -

Sterling fell with markets not certain on whether the Bank of England will raise interest rates next month despite rising British inflation.

"The UK is a key focus for markets this week as traders try to determine whether or not the Bank of England will follow through on warnings that interest rates could rise at an upcoming meeting," said Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at Oanda trading group.

In Asia, Tokyo's main stocks index ended up 0.1 percent at another 21-year high -- but Seoul dropped 0.1 percent, and Taipei, Manila and Jakarta also turned negative.

Hong Kong edged 0.1-percent higher to rack up a fifth successive day of gains that have left it at a 10-year high, while Sydney and Wellington were both marginally higher.

Shanghai was up 0.3 percent. Chinese dealers are watching Beijing, where the Communist Party on Wednesday kicked off its congress to hand Xi Jinping a second five-year term, consolidating his already immense power at the helm of the world's number-two economy.

Markets are hoping the leadership provides some idea about future policy, particularly in tackling the country's titanic debt mountain and possible further liberalization.

Wednesday continued strong Wall Street run followed the Dow and S&P 500 stock indices closing at new all-time highs Tuesday following solid results from big firms including Johnson & Johnson and Goldman Sachs.

However, some analysts are warning of a retreat before the end of the year, with Goldman citing the fate of U.S. President Donald Trump's tax plan as key.

Oil prices meanwhile rose following data showing a drop in U.S. stockpiles and with the commodity continuing to get support from ongoing battles between Iraqi and Kurdish forces in the disputed northern Iraq province of Kirkuk.

Crude fields taken Tuesday by the Iraqi army accounted for more than 400,000 of the 650,000 barrels per day that the autonomous Kurdish region used to export in defiance of Baghdad.

- Key figures around 1350 GMT -

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.4 percent at 7,549.43 points

Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 0.5 percent at 13,057.75

Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.5 percent at 5,387.06

Madrid - IBEX 35: up 0.1 percent at 10,222.90

EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.4 percent at 3,622.36

New York - DOW: UP 0.5 percent at 23,112.80

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.1 percent at 21,636.05 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 0.1 percent at 28,711.76 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.3 percent at 3,381.79 (close)

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1771 from $1.1766 at 2100 GMT

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3167 from $1.3194

Dollar/yen: UP at 112.83 yen from 112.20 yen

Oil - Brent North Sea: UP 38 cents at $58.26 per barrel

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: UP 36 cents at $52.47