* Graphic: World FX rates in 2019 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
* European shares open higher
* MSCI ACWI index up 0.5%, best day in over two weeks
* Crude bounces after Trump says U.S. Navy destroys Iranian
drone
* Dollar gains 0.1%, rate cut bets cap gains
By Ritvik Carvalho
LONDON, July 19 (Reuters) - Global stocks rose on Friday as
investors firmed up bets on a U.S. interest rate cut at the end
of July after a speech by a top Federal Reserve official further
cemented expectations for one, fuelling appetite for risky
assets and capping the dollar.
European shares opened higher across the board, but had
given up gains by midday in London. The pan-European STOXX 600
.STOXX index turned flat after rising as much as 0.7%, as a
slump in Italy's stock index and European bank stocks
weighed. .EU
In oil markets, crude surged after the United States said
its navy had destroyed an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz,
a major chokepoint for global crude flows, raising concerns
about supply disruptions out of the region.
Iran said all its drones had returned safely to base, and
there was no sign of a major escalation in the Gulf.
Comments by New York Fed President John Williams on Thursday
made it virtually certain, in the markets' view, that the Fed
would cut interest rates by at least 25 basis points at its July
30-31 policy meeting and also revived expectations of an even
deeper 50 bp reduction. Financial markets reacted quickly, with Fed fund rate
futures 0#FF: at one point pricing in an almost 70% chance of
a 50 bp cut. The odds eased to around 40% after the New York Fed
said Williams' speech had not been about immediate policy
direction. MSCI's All-Country World Index .MIWD00000PUS , which tracks
shares in 47 countries, was up 0.3% after earlier peaking at
0.5% up. But it was still on track to break a six-week streak of
weekly gains.
E-mini futures for the S&P 500 index ESc1 were 0.2%
higher, indicating a higher opening on Wall Street later in the
day.
"Williams' comments boosted appetite for riskier assets and
markets are now looking for signs of the start of a full easing
cycle when the Fed meets at the end of the month," said Piotr
Matys, emerging markets strategist at Rabobank.
Matys said he believed the Fed would make a precautionary
rate cut at the end of this month, but that it would not be the
start of a full cycle of cuts.
WILL RATE CUT SUFFICE?
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan
.MIAPJ0000PUS was up 0.84%, bouncing back from the previous
day's losses, while Japan's Nikkei .N225 advanced 2%.
Elsewhere in Asia, the Shanghai Composite Index .SSEC rose
0.8%, Australian stocks .AXJO added 0.75% and South Korea's
KOSPI .KS11 gained 1.4%.
For the week, the MSCI ex-Japan index climbed a modest 1%,
as riskier assets were partly capped by U.S. President Donald
Trump's reiteration of his threat to impose further duties on
Chinese imports.
The two sides resumed talks recently to seek an end to a
year-long trade war that has rattled financial markets and
slowed global growth. But most analysts do not expect an
agreement any time soon, with some predicting a strong risk of
further tariff escalation.
"Although central banks around the world have embarked on
policy-easing in a bid to support their respective economies,
investors are left to ponder whether the stimulus will be enough
to offset the effects from heightened U.S.-China trade
tensions," said Han Tan, market analyst at FXTM.
The dollar index .DXY against a basket of six major
currencies stood about 0.2% higher at 97.016 after losing
roughly 0.5% overnight to a two-week low of 96.671 in the wake
of the comments from the Fed's Williams.
The euro EUR= was 0.34% lower at $1.1237 after climbing
0.45% the previous day.
Oil prices rose on Friday as tensions spiked again in the
Middle East after the United States said it had destroyed an
Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz, a major chokepoint for
global crude flows. O/R
West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 futures were 81 cents,
or 1.44%, higher at $56.11 per barrel after touching $56.36.
They ended 2.6% lower in the previous session and were headed
for a weekly decline of around 6%.
Spot gold XAU= eased over half a percent as investors
locked in profits after bullion surpassed $1,450 an ounce for
the first time in more than six years on dovish Fed signals and
Middle East tension. GOL/