Stock markets waver as Nvidia, Ukraine tensions urge caution [Video]

Stock markets were little changed in Europe and on Wall Street Thursday after Ukraine claimed that Moscow fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, ratcheting up fears of further escalation in the war on Europe’s doorstep.

Quarterly earnings from the AI chip giant Nvidia also gave investors reason for pause, failing to match the sky-high expectations of many analysts that might underpin further tech stock gains.

But bitcoin resumed its march higher at around $97,000 on expectations that Donald Trump, spurred by cryptocurrency cheerleader Elon Musk, will bring it further into everyday use upon re-entering the White House in January.

“Will Americans be able to use crypto to pay their taxes in future? There is a bigger possibility of this happening now than before the election,” said Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB.

But the mood was decidedly more cautious in mainstream markets after this week’s developments in the Ukraine war, with …