LONDON: European stock markets defied a downturn in Asia, following several days of market turbulence sparked by trade rows and a spat over the US central bank. The drive higher came despite a cornucopia of risks, including higher oil prices from Saudi Arabia tensions - and ongoing turmoil surrounding Brexit that briefly weighed on sterling. "We've seen a positive session today but it's been slow going in the wake of a disappointing US retail sales report for September, and some concern that President Trump might look to impose further sanctions on Chinese goods in light of comments he made on US TV over the weekend," said Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK. Total US retail sales gained 0.1 per cent in September to a seasonally-adjusted US$509 billion, marking the eighth consecutive monthly increase, the Commerce Department said, which was much less than the 0.6 per cent gain expected by analysts. "In a sign that investors are starting to diversify out of … [Read more...] about European equities defy Asian slide