"Global Markets React: Asian Stocks Mixed, Gold Peaks Amid Fed Focus and Election Fallout"

European stocks are rising as the dollar gains strength on expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve will maintain high interest rates, with the Stoxx share index up 1% and London's FTSE 100 rising 0.8%. The dollar index is near a five-month high, while the euro and sterling have reached five-month lows. The European Central Bank and the Bank of England are expected to reverse their aggressive monetary tightening efforts, with the ECB signaling a potential rate cut in June. Meanwhile, gold prices have climbed to a record high, and crude oil prices rose after Iran vowed to retaliate for a suspected Israeli airstrike on its embassy in Syria.