BANGKOK (AP) — World shares advanced Thursday, while U.S. futures slipped as Iran launched more missiles at Israel on the sixth day of the war in the Middle East.

The future for the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.2%. The S&P 500 future was down 0.1%.

Uncertainty about the war in the Middle East has been rattling financial markets, with most taking their cues from what the price of oil is doing.

“Yesterday’s bounce in risk assets already looks less like a turning point and more like a classic relief rally in a market that briefly inhaled before realizing the room was still on fire,” Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a commentary.

Crude prices climbed early Thursday, with Brent, the international standard, gaining 1.8% to $82.87 per barrel. U.S. benchmark crude jumped 2.1% to $76.31 per barrel.

The war brought a fresh wave of attacks by Iran on Israeli and American bases. Iran warned the United States would “bitterly regret” torpedoing an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean and a religious leader called for “Trump’s blood,” while Israel said it had begun a “large-scale” attack on Tehran.

In Germany, the DAX regained lost ground, rising 0.2% to 24,253.24, while the CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.3% to 8,194.80. Britain’s FTSE 100 added 0.4% to 10,609.63.

In Asian trading, South Korea’s Kospi took back much of its historic losses from a day earlier, jumping 9.6% to 5,583.90. It had gained as much as 12% earlier in the day as investors hunted bargains, triggering temporary trading halts.

The government announced emergency measures for the economy after the benchmark fell by the most ever in a single day on Wednesday. President Lee Jae Myung urged officials to activate an emergency financial package worth 100 trillion won ($68.5 billion) aimed at calming market volatility.

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index gave back some early gains, closing 1.9% higher at 55,278.06.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng climbed 0.3% to 25,321.34 after Chinese Premier Li Qiang opened the annual session of the National People’s Congress with a report that set the annual target for economic growth this year at 4.5% to 5%. A draft budget put the increase in military spending at 7%, down from 7.2% in recent years.

The government pledged to support the sluggish domestic economy and spur more consumer spending, but did not announce any major new stimulus.

The Shanghai Composite index gained 0.6% to 4,108.57.

In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.4% to 8,940.30, while New Zealand’s benchmark rose 0.6%.

Taiwan’s main share index gained 2.6%.

On Wednesday, U.S. stocks got a boost as oil prices steadied, albeit temporarily. A report that said growth for U.S. businesses in the real estate, finance and other services industries accelerated last month at the fastest pace since the summer of 2022 also helped.

The S&P 500 rose 0.8%, erasing much of its losses since the war with Iran began. The Dow industrials added 0.5% and the Nasdaq composite climbed 1.3%.

Another report suggested U.S. private sector employers stepped up hiring last month, a potentially hopeful signal for a more comprehensive U.S. government Friday about the overall job market.

Investors are worried over how long the war with Iran could last, how high inflation may go because of more expensive oil and how much damage that might do to corporate profits.

Wall Street also got a lift from Big Tech stocks as Amazon rose 3.9% and Nvidia added 1.7%. Because they’re among the biggest stocks in the U.S. market in terms of total value, their movements carry more weight on the S&P 500.

Wednesday’s strong reports on the economy were welcome news for the Federal Reserve, whose job it is to keep the U.S. job market healthy and inflation low. The Fed’s job has become more difficult because of the jump in oil prices, which is pushing upward on already high inflation.

In other dealings early Thursday, the U.S. dollar rose to 157.16 Japanese yen from 157.07 yen. The euro fell to $1.1623 from $1.1636.

The dollar has advanced against other currencies partly because the U.S. is viewed as facing less risk from the war than other countries, analysts said.

“When the world becomes less certain, capital gravitates toward the deepest pool of liquidity available,” Innes said, adding that the dollar “remains the market’s preferred storm shelter.”

___

AP Writer Kim Tong-hyung contributed.

Emma Raducanu believes her style of tennis has been “coached out of me” and has suggested she could “tap into a few people” for guidance in the short-term rather than appointing a full-time coach.

The British No 1 split with Francisco Roig following her second-round exit at the Australian Open, explaining that she wanted to go back to playing like she did when she was younger.

The 23-year-old, who arrives at Indian Wells following a difficult swing in the Middle East, will work with hitting partner Alexis Canter, as well as receiving some help from Mark Petchey.

Petchey was part of Raducanu’s team for her run to the Miami Open quarter-finals last season, and will offer Raducanu guidance at Indian Wells along with his TV commitments for Tennis Channel.

Raducanu has employed several full-time coaches since winning the US Open in 2021, and told BBC Sport that she is not necessarily in a rush to employ another.

“I have had a lot of people telling me what to do, how to play, and it hasn’t necessarily fit,” Raducanu said ahead of her second-round match, having received a first-round bye.

“So I want to come back to my natural way of playing. That takes time to relearn because that’s something that has been coached out of me a little bit.

“I don’t necessarily want to have one coach in the role because anyone I bring in is straight away going to be scrutinised – even if it’s a trial.

“I might feel the pressure to stick with them, even if it’s not necessarily the right decision. I would love to have a coach that works well, but I don’t think it’s necessarily going to be easy to find one person and they are going to check every box.”

Before splitting up with Roig, Raducanu said at the Australian Open that she wanted to “re-evaluate” her game and lamented that she had lost her tennis “identity”. She hinted at fundamental differences with Roig and his instructions.

“I definitely have my mind open to it,” she said. “It’s just that I would rather someone not come in and tell me ‘let’s do this’, and I disagree with it but have to listen to them. So far Alexis has been really good, but I am definitely going to tap into a few people here and there.”

A two part instalment was aired last night (March 4) that left some viewers queasy after viewing

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24 Hours in Police Custody fans have been left feeling “sick” after the documentary returned with a “deeply disturbing” double bill.

The landmark Channel 4 documentary is a firm favourite amongst true crime fans as it follows detectives in a local police force as they investigate major crimes. Often following a case from start to finish, detectives are seen in the race against time as they uncover horrific truths in their search for justice.

Having first been released in 2014, 24 Hours in Police Custody fans eagerly await new instalments to be released on Channel 4, with fresh episodes being released earlier this year.

After several weeks of the show being replaced on the television schedule, a two part instalment was aired last night on Channel 4, with both episodes released back to back. However, it may have been familiar to some viewers already as it was a repeat.

Titled 24 Hours in Police Custody: The Butcher of Suburbia, it delves into the 2024 murder of a 74-year-old woman. Viewers witnessed detectives investigate the killer who dismembered and hid her body, initially claiming she had moved away.

For part one, the broadcaster teased: “The landmark series brings us the gripping inside story of the murder of a 74-year-old woman – and the killer’s macabre efforts to conceal her death.”

Part two continued: “The suspect admits to the murder of a 74-year-old woman. But a deeply disturbing tale that shocks experienced detectives has only just begun.”

Despite it being a repeat, viewers were left feeling sick after tuning in, with one person writing on social media: “Just vile and sick.”

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Another said: “What an evil monster he is, that poor woman, this is absolutely horrific.” A third added: “My god what an evil sicko.”

Previously, when the episodes were first aired, one disgusted viewer said: “Omg that episode of 24 hours in police custody – the butcher of suburbia is HARROWING.”

Another added: “#24hoursinpolicecustody is undoubtedly one of the best programs on TV. The Butcher of Suburbia…the chilling calmness, openness, honesty about killing and chopping up a 70-year-old lady. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything quite like it.”

Viewers may be wondering when episodes will next be released on television screens. However, in disappointing news, the documentary series does not appear on the television guide next week, instead, Channel 4 will premiere its adaptation of A Woman of Substance on Wednesday, March 11, at 9pm.

24 Hours in Police Custody can be streamed on Channel 4 online.

For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website.

The following article contains spoilers from the episode of Coronation Street dated March 5. It hasn’t aired on ITV1 yet, but can be viewed on ITVX.

Jodie Ramsey (Olivia Frances-Brown) could be about to take action to keep someone quiet in Coronation Street, as a Weatherfield resident has made a massive discovery about her.

The character, introduced to us during Corriedale, has spent the past couple of days at the hospital supporting David and Shona Platt (Jack P Shepherd and Julia Goulding), who were there for baby Harper’s operation.

Initially, Jodie and the rest of the Platt clan were in the hospital lobby waiting for news on Harper. However, when David and Shona learnt that their daughter had suffered a bleed, a stressed David told everyone to leave.

Jodie stayed behind because she wanted to try to get closer to David. Whether this worked or not remains to be seen, but she did give David a hug, and he told her that she cannot tell anyone about it.

While in the corridor, Jodie bumped into a mum who assumed that Harper was her daughter.

Jodie had to think on her feet in today’s episode, as the mum crossed paths with her again.

Prior to this, Shona and David discovered that Jodie had spent the entire night at the hospital with them. They thought it was a bit strange, but their exhaustion meant neither of them had the energy to grow suspicious.

When Jodie bumped into the mum, she happily chatted about Harper’s operation and once again pretended that she was her daughter. To Jodie’s shock, though, Shona was overhearing the entire thing.

Jodie quickly claimed that the mum wasn’t very well mentally, and went along with her assumption that she was Harper’s mum because it was easier. Shona was far too tired to wonder if Jodie’s story was true, which meant she had got away with it.

Jodie’s ‘trophy box’ discovered

Meanwhile, at the Platt home, Lily (Grace Ashcroft-Gardner) was searching for some schoolwork. During this, she came across a box in a cupboard. Curious, she opened it and spotted the cut out of Bernie Winter’s (Jane Hazlegrove) face, which was stolen by Jodie a couple of days ago.

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When Jodie returned from the hospital, Lily confronted her aunt about the box. The teen had also noticed Brian Packham’s (Peter Gunn) book inside, and wondered why she had stolen it along with the picture of Bernie.

Jodie did a very good job at covering up the truth and told Lily that she nicked the book because she wanted to stick up for her niece, as Shona and David never do.

Jodie asked Lily if she was going to keep quiet, and was thrown when the youngster said she wasn’t sure.

Left alone, Jodie had a dark look on her face, but is she going to do something to Lily to ensure she doesn’t tell anyone about the box, which seems to have items from her past victims inside?

MORE: Coronation Street fans have the most brutal response to the upcoming death storyline

MORE: Jodie’s new victim confirmed in Coronation Street as she goes all out for revenge

MORE: Coronation Street star ‘confirms’ explosive Shona reaction as Jodie is exposed

New figures show more than 2,700 investors were “within touching distance” of ISA millionaire status in 2022-23 – and strong market gains since then mean many are likely to have now crossed the seven-figure mark.

Data obtained from HM Revenue and Customs via a Freedom of Information request shows around 5,070 people had Individual Savings Account (ISA) pots worth £1 million or more by April 2023.

But that may only tell part of the story.

Further breakdowns requested by investment app Plum reveal:

• 1,240 ISA holders had between £950,000 and £999,999
• 1,530 investors held between £900,000 and £949,999
• 4,700 savers had pots worth £800,000 to £899,999

With stock markets rising in recent years, many of those investors may now have exceeded £1 million.

Nearly 60,000 savers above £500,000

The HMRC data also shows 59,970 ISA holders had balances between £500,000 and £999,999 in 2022-23.

Plum said a significant proportion of these investors could realistically join “millionaires’ row” within the next decade — assuming they remain invested and benefit from compounded growth.

Rajan Lakhani of Plum said: “Few people could ever have imagined that when the ISA launched, it would one day be creating tens of thousands of millionaires.”

The milestone highlights the power of long-term investing.

Figures released in December by The National Lottery showed that since its launch in 1994, more than 7,700 millionaires have been created. It previously said 365 millionaires were made in 2025 alone.

But financial experts say investing offers something different: control.

Maike Currie, vice president of personal finance at PensionBee, said: “What these figures tell us is the power of compounding and the importance of control – you can’t plan to win the Lottery, but you can plan to invest.

Not everyone will win the Lotto – most won’t.

Likewise, not everyone will be born into wealth, marry it or receive a life-changing inheritance.

But investing is within the reach of ordinary earners and ISAs are one of the most powerful tools we have to democratise that opportunity.”

With the end of the tax year approaching, Currie said the figures are a reminder to use annual ISA and pension allowances before they reset.

“You don’t need luck – you need time, discipline and the decision to start,” she added.

For tens of thousands of investors already sitting on six-figure ISA balances, the leap to seven figures may be closer than they think.

And for everyone else, the message from experts is clear: while lottery wins grab headlines, steady long-term investing may be quietly building far more millionaires in the background.