Fed’s Powell opens door to potential rate cuts at Jackson Hole
* China trims short-term interest rate, in surprise move
* World shares index less than 1% from record high
* Markets look to Fed minutes, ECB Lagarde speech
* Pound inches up as opinion polls favour Tories
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2019 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
By Marc Jones
LONDON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - World shares were close to a
record high on Monday, after Beijing surprised markets by
trimming a key interest rate for the first time since 2015.
In the latest show of support for its economy, China's
central bank cut rates on seven-day reverse repurchase
agreements by five basis points to 2.50%. The news helped Asia's main markets close higher
.CSI300 .N225 .HSI and Europe followed suit, though 0.1% to
0.3% moves showed the initial reaction was cautious.
It did nudge MSCI's 49-country world share index
..MIWD00000PUS 0.12% higher to leave it less than 1% off the
record high it set back in early 2018.
"It is a slow start to a slow week, but risk is marginally
on," said Societe Generale strategist Kit Juckes.
He added it was now hard to avoid concluding that China was
slowly easing monetary policy, having held off in recent months,
perhaps wary of drawing fresh criticism from U.S. President
Donald Trump during trade talks.
"Maybe that's what 5 basis points is all about. It's not
rocking the boat, but it's a shift."
The pan-European STOXX 600 index .STOXX was extending its
six-week winning streak. The index is only 8 points short of its
own record high of 415.18 points hit in mid-April.
Japan's Nikkei .N225 gained 0.5% and was just short of its
recent 13-month top. E-Mini futures pointed to S&P 500 ESc1
adding to Friday's record highs. .N
Beijing's latest policy bolstered to hopes it might also be
more serious about making progress in trade talks with the
United States.
On Saturday, Chinese state media said the two sides had
"constructive talks" on trade in a high-level phone call that
included Vice Premier Liu He, U.S. trade representative Robert
Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. "More than in previous rounds, we see momentum toward
reaching at least a limited trade deal, and certainly a
mini-deal would remove some of the negative sentiment overhang
for the real economy and markets," said Patrik Schowitz, global
multi-asset strategist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management.
"We have upgraded our outlook on equities as an asset
class," he added. "Emerging-market equities are now our most
favoured region alongside U.S. large-cap equities."
LOOKING TO THE FED
The dollar was little changed against other major currencies
on Monday and within recent trading ranges. Volatility in the
market has been the lowest in decades recently and shows no sign
of shifting.
The dollar rose against the safe-haven yen to 108.94
Chart support lies at 108.23 with resistance at 109.48.
The euro traded at $1.1063 EUR= having found support at
$1.0987 last week. Investors are waiting for the first major
speech by European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, due
on Friday, for clues on future policy.
Sterling gained to $1.2952 GBP=D3 as more polls showed the
Tories ahead in the campaign for Britain's Dec. 12 election.
The dollar and bonds are likely to be sensitive to minutes
of the Federal Reserve's last policy meeting, set to be
released on Wednesday.
"The minutes are likely to reiterate that the U.S. economy
is 'solid' and that current monetary policy settings are
'appropriate', which would support the dollar," said Joseph
Capurso, a currency analyst at Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
However, he noted a report on October U.S. retail sales
released on Friday suggested previously strong consumption might
be slowing. "Any further weakness in consumption could warrant a
material reassessment of the outlook by the FOMC. Under our
baseline, the FOMC would most likely start cutting interest
rates again in 2020," said Capurso.
Spot gold fell to $1,459 per ounce XAU= .
Oil prices also fell, after Brent touched a seven-week high
on Friday. O/R Brent crude LCOc1 futures dropped 18 cents
to $63.12 a barrel. U.S. crude CLc1 slipped by 4 cents to
$57.69.
Asia stock markets https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
Asia-Pacific valuations https://tmsnrt.rs/2Dr2BQA
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