European equities dipped in early trading Tuesday while Asian stocks closed mostly higher, as investors mainly focused on a U.S. inflation report and what it means for interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

Oil prices advanced.

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia is close to signing a deal on the purchase of 12 French Rafale multi-purpose fighter jets, the Serbian president announced Tuesday, in what would mark a shift from its traditional military supplier Russia.

President Aleksandar Vucic spoke during his two-day visit to Paris and talks with French President Emmanuel Macron as well as French defense officials including Rafale manufacturer Dassault Aviation.

Lebanon is facing tough times, but amidst the challenges, a beacon of hope shines bright. The 3rd edition of the Middle East Clean Energy (MECE) is set to take place in Beirut from May 8 to May 10, 2024. This exciting event showcases the latest advancements in clean and renewable energy, offering a glimpse into a greener future for Lebanon and the region.

Why You Should Care About Clean Energy:

Turkey and Israel announced tit-for-tat trade barriers on Tuesday as relations between them further deteriorated amid the war in Gaza.

Turkey, a staunch critic of Israel's military actions in Gaza, first announced that it was restricting exports of 54 types of products to Israel with immediate effect. The products include aluminum, steel, construction products, jet fuel and chemical fertilizers. Responding to the Turkish trade restrictions, Israel said it was preparing a ban on products from Turkey.

Global shares mostly rose Monday as investors looked ahead to earnings reports from top global companies and a consumer prices report that will be a gauge for U.S. inflation.

France's CAC 40 gained 0.4% in early trading to 8,095.02, while Germany's DAX edged up 0.5% to 18,258.45. Britain's FTSE 100 inched up less than 0.1% to 18,258.45. U.S. shares were set to drift lower with Dow futures down 0.1% at 39,198.00. S&P 500 futures fell nearly 0.1% to 5,248.50.

The Biden administration will push China to change an industrial policy that poses a threat to U.S. jobs, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Monday after wrapping up four days of talks with Chinese officials.

She also said in Beijing they had "difficult conversations" about national security, including American concerns that Chinese companies are supporting Russia in its war in Ukraine.

The nation's most influential banker, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, told investors Monday that he continues to expect the U.S. economy to be resilient and grow this year. But he worries geopolitical events including the war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war, as well as U.S. political polarization, might be creating an environment that "may very well be creating risks that could eclipse anything since World War II."

The comments came in an annual shareholder letter from Dimon, who often uses the letter to weigh in broad topics like politics, regulation and global events and what it might mean to JPMorgan Chase, as well as the broader economy.

Global shares mostly declined Friday as investors looked to a key U.S. jobs report due later in the day to gauge the health of the economy and see what the Federal Reserve might do on interest rates.

France's CAC 40 declined 1.3% in early trading to 8,042.05, while Germany's DAX slipped 1.4% to 18,153.11. Britain's FTSE 100 shed nearly 1.0% to 7,898.31. U.S. shares were set to trade mixed with Dow futures down 0.2% at 38,988.00, while S&P 500 futures rose 0.3% to 5,213.25.

Apple is laying off more than 600 workers in California, marking the company's first big wave of post-pandemic job cuts amid a broader wave of tech industry consolidation.

The iPhone maker notified 614 workers in multiple offices on March 28 that they were losing their jobs, with the layoffs becoming effective on May 27, according to reports to regional authorities.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called on China on Friday to address manufacturing overcapacity that she said risks causing global economic dislocation, and to create a level playing field for American companies and workers.

Starting a five-day visit in one of China's major industrial and export hubs, she raised what the U.S. considers to be unfair Chinese trade practices in talks with senior Chinese officials.