* BoE announces surprise 50 bps cut to tackle coronavirus
shock
* Move raises pressure on ECB to act on Thursday
* European shares follow Wall Street higher but rebound
small
* Oil falls after Saudi Aramco (SE:2222) announces more production
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
By Tommy Wilkes
LONDON, March 11 (Reuters) - European stocks staged a small
rebound on Wednesday after the Bank of England joined other
banks in cutting interest rates, raising hopes for more
coordinated monetary and fiscal stimulus to counter the economic
shock from the coronavirus outbreak.
The surprise move from the BoE which -- on the day that
Britain's budget is set to open the taps on spending -- also
announced measures to support bank lending, lifted shares after
a lacklustre session in Asia. Wall Street rallied sharply on Tuesday, helping reverse some
of Monday's brutal losses, but that failed to translate into
improved sentiment on Wednesday as scepticism grew about the
stimulus package announced by Washington to fight the epidemic.
By 1100 GMT, however, stocks were off their daily highs as
caution set in. The FTSE 100 .FTSE had risen 0.83%, the Euro
Stoxx .STOXXE was 1.39% ahead and Germany's DAX .GDAX was
1.29% higher.
U.S. stock futures ESc1 were down 2.04%, although that was
up from the 3% losses before the BoE's 50-basis-point cut in the
base rate to 0.25%. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares
outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS weakened 1.12%.
With the Federal Reserve having already cut rates this
month, the pressure is now on the European Central Bank to act
when it meets on Thursday.
The BoE did not announce new quantitative easing measures
but it did launch a new scheme to support lending to small
businesses. The UK finance minister is due to present his first
annual budget shortly after 1230 GMT.
"It is the only thing central banks can do in a public
health crisis," said Neil Dwane, global strategist and portfolio
manager at Allianz Global Investors. "They are trying to take
the shackles off the banks to ensure we don't get a cash
crunch."
But after a decade of extraordinary monetary policy,
investors say the impact of easier policy has clear limits and
increased government spending must bear the brunt of the policy
response to the economic consequences of the outbreak.
"For the ECB their problem is that there is even more
pressure because they face the third-largest euro zone economy
-- Italy -- in dire straits," Dwane said.
As of Tuesday's close, $8.1 trillion in value has been
erased from global stock markets in the recent rout.
The MSCI all-country index .MIWD00000PUS has lost more
than 15% of its value since it peaked on Feb. 12, and was 0.13%
lower on Wednesday.
DECLINING DOLLAR
Sterling initially fell sharply following the BoE decision
before rebounding. It was last up 0.4% at $1.2925 GBP=D3 but
down 0.3% versus the euro at 87.66 pence EURGBP=D3 .
The dollar resumed its decline against the yen JPY=EBS ,
the Swiss franc CHF=EBS and the euro EUR=EBS , weighed down
by uncertainty about the U.S government's response and the drop
in U.S. Treasury yields. The greenback remained significantly
above levels seen on Monday, however.
Benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury yields US10T=RR fell 5
basis points to 0.7035%, more than double Monday's record low
yield of 0.3180%.
Market participants largely expect the Fed to cut rates for
the second time this month at next week's scheduled policy
meeting, after it surprised investors with a 50-basis-point cut
last week. FEDWATCH
German government bond yields rose DE10YT=RR after the BoE
cut supported sentiment, while Italian yields IT10YT=RR --
which had shot up on worries the country with Europe's worst
outbreak of the virus is sliding into a recession -- tumbled 20
basis points as bets on ECB stimulus grow. Italy is on lockdown in an attempt to slow new infections.
Karen Ward, Chief Market Strategist for EMEA at JP Morgan
Asset Management, said all eyes were now on British finance
minister Rishi Sunak to see if he announces a big increase in
spending.
"If he does, this would be the first instance of a truly
coordinated monetary and fiscal push. Investors may be comforted
by the fact that policymakers are willing to deploy their full
ammunition -- moving a step closer to helicopter money," she
said.
A radical argument for fiscal policy to create money and
hand it out to the public is sometimes referred to as
"helicopter money".
U.S. crude CLc1 slid 2.5% to $33.49 per barrel, while
Brent crude LCOc1 dropped 2.31% to $36.36 after Saudi Aramco
announced plans to raise its production capacity at the same
time as the coronavirus was set to weaken demand. On Monday, oil prices plunged as Saudi Arabia and Russia
clashed openly over management of supply.
Spot gold XAU= rose 1% to $1,665 per ounce as investors
sought safety in the precious metal. GOL/
Markets hit hard by coronavirus worries https://tmsnrt.rs/3cm1zTi
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