GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks mostly ease off record highs; bitcoin rise again

* S&P 500 lower after string of higher closes
* Bitcoin hits another record
* Spot gold rises

(Updates with early U.S. markets activity, changes byline,
dateline, previous LONDON)
By Caroline Valetkevitch
NEW YORK, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Global equity indexes were flat
to slightly lower on Tuesday, pausing after a run to record
highs, while bitcoin climbed to another all-time peak, extending
gains in the wake of an endorsement from Tesla Inc TSLA.O .
The S&P 500 was slightly lower in early New York trading as
investors awaited further news on the proposed $1.9 trillion
U.S. stimulus plan, while MSCI's gauge of stocks across the
globe was little changed.
Optimism over monetary and fiscal support from policymakers,
robust corporate earnings and the prospect that coronavirus
vaccines could hasten a return to normality in the United States
and other countries have bolstered risk sentiment. But concern remained over the pace of vaccination, its
efficacy against new variants of the novel coronavirus and the
damage being done to economies, including the impact on the
dollar of a $1.9 trillion stimulus package.
"We've come a long way in a short time," said Josh Wein,
portfolio manager with Hennessy Funds. "It won't take a lot for
the market to pause ... whether it's deliberations over fiscal
stimulus, or the occasional talk of inflation or interest rates
getting some lift."
The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI fell 25.75 points,
or 0.08%, to 31,360.01, the S&P 500 .SPX lost 4.74 points, or
0.12%, to 3,910.85 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 28.90
points, or 0.21%, to 14,016.54.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index .STOXX lost 0.14% and
MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe .MIWD00000PUS gained
0.16%.
In more volatile cryptocurrency markets, Bitcoin BTC=BTSP
soared to a new high, on its way toward another milestone:
$50,000. It has surged more than 1,000% since March 2020 at the
beginning of the pandemic, and analysts said forecasts of
bitcoin hitting $100,000 this year don't seem far-fetched.
The gains follow disclosures from Tesla Monday that it had
invested around $1.5 billion in the virtual currency and expects
to accept it as payment for its cars in the future. The dollar fell to a one-week low. The dollar index =USD
was last down 0.4%, with the euro EUR= up 0.42% to $1.2099.
Benchmark U.S. Treasury yields dipped as the recent rise in
yields attracted buyers.
Benchmark 10-year yields jumped to their highest since March
and 30-year bond yields rose above 2% for the first time since
February on Monday as investors prepared for the prospect of
faster U.S. growth and inflation, and new supply. Benchmark 10-year notes US10YT=RR last rose 6/32 in price
to yield 1.1413%, from 1.16% late on Monday.
Spot gold XAU= added 0.3% to $1,836.19 an ounce. U.S. gold
futures GCc1 gained 0.27% to $1,836.80 an ounce.

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Global assets http://tmsnrt.rs/2jvdmXl
Global currencies vs. dollar http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
Emerging markets http://tmsnrt.rs/2ihRugV
MSCI All Country World Index Market Cap http://tmsnrt.rs/2EmTD6j
COVID-19 vaccinations https://tmsnrt.rs/2YVEIse
Bitcoin https://tmsnrt.rs/3juWI6a
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