Global stock markets: Goldilocks fights back but bears still swinging

Copper, one of the industrial metals seen as a sensitive gauge of global economic health, climbed over 1.3 per cent

Traders betting on the Goldilocks scenario of a not-too-hot, not-too-cold global economy came up against market bears again on Tuesday, with little sign yet of a winner emerging in their ongoing face-off. 

Stocks see-sawed with solid gains in China and other Asian emerging markets offset by a tumble in Japan and then a red morning for most of Europe's bourses and Wall Street futures in New York. 

Tokyo's 0.65 per cent fall had been compounded as the yen hit a five-month high amid a renewed bout of dollar weakness which had also helped lift bond and commodity markets after recent turbulence. 

Copper, one