* Trump's trade comments boost markets, Wall St stocks gain
* Pound traders lock in profits before British election
result
* Dovish Fed, ECB message also help risk trade
(Updates with U.S. market open; adds commentary; changes
byline, dateline; previous LONDON)
By Sinéad Carew
NEW YORK, Dec 12 (Reuters) - MSCI's global stock index hit a
record high on Thursday after President Donald Trump said the
United States was "very close" to reaching a trade deal with
China.
The comment, days before new U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports
were to be imposed, sent U.S. Treasury yields and the U.S.
dollar index higher, while stock indexes on Wall Street reversed
course to gain almost 1%. Sterling weakened from an eight-month high versus the dollar
with voting underway in an election that will determine whether
Britain exits the European Union next month or lead to another
referendum that could reverse the country's previous vote in
favor of Brexit.
Earlier, European Central Bank head Christine Lagarde had
promised a strategic review of the bank's workings and left its
easy money stance unchanged, as expected. On Wednesday, the U.S. Federal Reserve held interest rates
steady and signaled borrowing costs will not change anytime
soon, with moderate economic growth and historically low
unemployment expected to persist through the 2020 presidential
election. "The reason things have rebounded is the President's comment
that the U.S. is close to a deal... Until we actually have
something firm, I'm skeptical," said Burns McKinney, portfolio
manager at Allianz Global Investors in Dallas.
"The Fed meeting, the UK election and the ECB meeting are
potential speed bumps. The Dec. 15 deadline is not a speed bump.
That's a great big pot hole."
The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 194.73 points,
or 0.7%, to 28,106.03, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 20.79 points,
or 0.66%, to 3,162.42 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added
44.09 points, or 0.51%, to 8,698.15.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index .STOXX rose 0.59% and
MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe .MIWD00000PUS gained
0.65% surpassing the previous record reached in January 2018.
In the currency market, trade optimism strengthened the U.S.
dollar. The dollar index, which measures the
greenback against a group of major currencies, .DXY rose
0.34%, with the euro EUR= down 0.09% to $1.1118. The Japanese
yen weakened 0.64% versus the greenback at 109.27 per dollar.
As markets waited for results of the UK election, sterling
GBP= was last trading at $1.3131, down 0.47% on the day.
If U.K. Conservatives, led by Boris Johnson, gain a
majority, that would allow the stalled Brexit deal to be passed.
But the latest polls have shown his lead shrinking. Exit polls for Britain's election will begin around 2200
GMT, after voting closes. Whether there will be a clear winner
or another hung parliament is likely to emerge between 0400 GMT
and 0600 GMT. U.S. Treasury yields spiked on Thursday, with the long end
hitting four-week highs after the trade deal comments.
Benchmark 10-year notes US10YT=RR last fell 31/32 in price
to yield 1.8974%, from 1.79% late on Wednesday.
The 30-year bond US30YT=RR last fell 79/32 in price to
yield 2.3327%, from 2.22% late on Wednesday.
Oil prices rose on trade optimism and after the U.S. Federal
Reserve's optimistic tone on the economic outlook. OR
U.S. crude CLcv1 rose 0.9% to $59.29 per barrel and Brent
LCOcv1 was last at $64.36, up 1% on the day.
In commodities, spot gold XAU= dropped 0.6% to $1,466.43
an ounce. Here is a graphic plotting Sterling's move vs election odds:
Sterling vs. odds of Conservative majority in 2019 election https://tmsnrt.rs/2YHhmpw
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