London / AFP European stock markets mostly rose on Wednesday, shrugging off a largely downbeat session in Asia, with sentiment partly lifted by German economic growth data. Strong foreign trade and buoyant consumption drove Germany’s economy, Europe’s largest, to better-than-expected growth in the second quarter, federal statistics office Destatis said. Gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.4 percent between …

  Dubai / Reuters Gulf stock markets moved little in early trade on Wednesday with few positive factors to spur buying, although Saudi Arabian petrochemical shares were firm. The Saudi Arabian index was flat. Petrochemical heavyweight Saudi Basic Industries added 0.6 percent and Al Sagr Cooperative Insurance rose 2.2 percent in unusually heavy trade. Dubai’s index edged down 0.2 percent. …

  London / AFP Oil prices fell on Wednesday, with Brent stuck below $50, after data showed an increase in US crude stockpiles, adding to supply glut concerns. Data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) Tuesday showed US crude inventories rose by 4.5 million barrels last week. Rising stocks indicate weaker demand in the world’s top oil consuming nation and …