* Factory data points to global increase in activity
* Gold touches 8-year peak before pulling back
* Crude prices rise on inventories, factory data
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
(Updates prices, adds comment)
By Rodrigo Campos
NEW YORK, July 1 (Reuters) - Stocks across the globe rose on
Wednesday following a string of data pointing to a recovery in
manufacturing and on bets for a COVID-19 vaccine, while the
risk-on mood pushed the U.S. dollar lower.
Germany's manufacturing sector contracted at a slower pace
in June, while activity in the United States hit a 14-month
high. French factory activity rebounded into growth, and
activity in China's factories offered further signs that the
world's second-largest economy may have passed the worst of the
devastation caused by the pandemic. On Thursday, the market's focus will be on the U.S. non-farm
payrolls report.
"The manufacturing number adds a boost to investor
confidence," said Andre Bakhos, managing director at New Vines
Capital LLC in Bernardsville, New Jersey. "Now the market is
positioning itself in anticipation for tomorrow's numbers."
Pfizer shares PFE jumped 4% after a COVID-19 vaccine
developed jointly with Germany's BioNTech BNTX.O was found to
be well tolerated, the fourth early-stage drug to show promise
in human testing. The news comes as a Reuters analysis showed coronavirus
cases more than doubled in 14 U.S. states last month and fears
are growing that the case-load could prompt fresh lockdowns.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI fell 24.95 points,
or 0.1%, to 25,787.93, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 15.05 points,
or 0.49%, to 3,115.34 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added
81.72 points, or 0.81%, to 10,140.48.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index .STOXX rose 0.24% and
MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe .MIWD00000PUS gained
0.42%.
Emerging market stocks rose 0.61%, while Japan's Nikkei
futures NKc1 lost 0.56%.
Overnight, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares
outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS closed 0.44% higher.
The stronger data and vaccine news weighed on the dollar,
which has been bid on days when traders are less risky.
"There's definitely a risk-on tone to the market, which
continues to bet on the fact that we're past the worst point of
COVID. But I think the jury is still out on that judgment," said
Boris Schlossberg, managing director at BK Asset Management in
New York.
"There's a significant risk of reclosing some of the states.
There's still a lot of risk-off flows, and the dollar could be
the beneficiary of those flows," he added.
The dollar index =USD fell 0.216%, with the euro EUR= up
0.13% to $1.1246. The Japanese yen strengthened 0.41% versus the
greenback at 107.50 per dollar, while Sterling GBP= was last
trading at $1.2471, up 0.58% on the day.
The global rise in manufacturing activity put a bid under
energy prices, also supported by a bigger-than-expected drop in
U.S. crude inventories.
"Largely we are moving forward in the way of demand and not
backward, despite the negative view of coronavirus cases
rising," said Tony Headrick, energy markets analyst at CHS
Hedging.
U.S. crude CLc1 recently rose 1.25% to $39.76 per barrel
and Brent LCOc1 was at $41.99, up 1.74% on the day.
Treasury yields also rose with the risk-on sentiment.
Benchmark 10-year notes US10YT=RR last fell 11/32 in price
to yield 0.6873%, from 0.653% late on Tuesday.
The 30-year bond US30YT=RR last fell 22/32 in price to
yield 1.4391%, from 1.411%.
Gold XAU= prices rose to their highest in 8 years at
$1,788.96 an ounce, and recently dropped 0.8% to $1,767.09 an
ounce. GOL/
<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
World financial markets in 2020 https://tmsnrt.rs/2BmerLo
World FX rates in 2020 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>