GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks mostly rise as tech shares gain; oil prices slip

* S&P 500 ends higher
* MSCI global equity index gains for 9th day
* Oil slips

(Updates with U.S. markets closing levels)
By Caroline Valetkevitch
NEW YORK Feb 11 (Reuters) - MSCI's gauge of stocks across
the globe rose for a ninth session and U.S. stocks ended mostly
higher on Thursday, supported by technology shares, while oil
prices slipped.
The technology sector .SPLCRT gained 1.1% and gave the S&P
500 its biggest boost, while energy .SPNY fell along with oil
prices.
Oil prices slid, ending a streak of strong gains after both
OPEC and the International Energy Agency said renewed lockdowns
and the emergence of new coronavirus variants reduced the
prospect of a swift demand recovery.
Brent LCOc1 futures fell 33 cents to settle at $61.14 a
barrel, while U.S. crude CLc1 fell 44 cents to $58.24.
Tempering some enthusiasm in stocks, U.S. President Joe
Biden said China was poised to "eat our lunch." Biden told a
group of U.S. senators in a meeting to discuss the need to
upgrade U.S. infrastructure that the United States must raise
its game in the face of the challenge from China. U.S.-listed shares of cannabis companies reversed dropped
sharply after the sector caught the attention of Reddit-inspired
retail investors this week. Tilray TLRY.O was last down 49.7%.
Investors continued to digest a dovish Federal Reserve
outlook. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell reassured investors on
Wednesday that interest rates will remain low for some time to
spur the economy and jobs growth, but provided no new insights
on monetary policy. "As long as the economic news is difficult the Fed is going
to continue to act, which will prop up the stock market," said
Sandy Villere, portfolio manager at Villere & Co in New Orleans,
Louisiana.
Wall Street's main indexes have hit record highs recently on
prospects of the $1.9 trillion relief bill.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI fell 7.1 points, or
0.02%, to 31,430.7, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 6.5 points, or
0.17%, to 3,916.38 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 53.24
points, or 0.38%, to 14,025.77.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index .STOXX rose 0.46% and
MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe .MIWD00000PUS gained
0.25%.
In the cryptocurrency sector, bitcoin hit another record of
$48,481.45 BTC=BTSP , as it continues its march toward the
$50,000 mark. It was last up 6.3% at $47,685, rising after news
that BNY Mellon became the latest firm to embrace
cryptocurrencies.
The dollar fell against some of the major currencies,
weighed down by slightly weaker-than-expected U.S. jobless
claims data that followed tepid inflation numbers. The dollar index =USD fell 0.033%, with the euro EUR= up
0.02% to $1.2131.
U.S. Treasury yields rose after the Treasury Department saw
soft demand for a sale of new 30-year bonds, but they held below
highs reached earlier this week after inflation data on
Wednesday disappointed. Benchmark 10-year notes US10YT=RR last fell 4/32 in price
to yield 1.1648%, from 1.152% late on Wednesday.
Spot gold XAU= % to $1,825.03 an ounce.

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Asia stock markets https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
Asia-Pacific valuations https://tmsnrt.rs/2Dr2BQA
MSCI world stock index cruising at record highs https://tmsnrt.rs/3qaUqvu
World FX rates http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
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