GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks slip on virus fears, dollar hits highest in 2-1/2 weeks

* Graphic: 2020 asset performance http://tmsnrt.rs/2yaDPgn
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
* MSCI ACWI off records highs
* European shares dip
* Dollar hits 2-1/2 week high

By Ritvik Carvalho
LONDON, Jan 11 (Reuters) - World shares came off record
highs on Monday as caution over rising coronavirus cases saw
some profit-taking from investors, while elevated Treasury
yields helped the dollar hit its highest levels in over two and
a half weeks.
Worldwide coronavirus cases surpassed 90 million on Monday,
according to a Reuters tally. European shares dipped in early trading, with rising
coronavirus cases across the continent and China dragging down
commodity stocks. Germany's DAX .GDAXI lost 0.55%, Britain's
FTSE 100 .FTSE , Italy's FTSE MIB, and France's CAC 40 .FCHI
fell about half a percent each, and Spain's IBEX fell 0.2%. .EU
The pan-European STOXX 600 index was down 0.3%. .STOXX
With Asian stock markets also lower, MSCI's All Country
World index, which tracks stocks across 49 countries, was down
0.2%, just off Friday's record high. .MIWD00000PUS
Futures for the S&P 500 ESc1 slipped 0.6% from record
highs, after gaining 1.8% last week.
"There was an awful lot of optimism about prospects for
stimulus with the Biden administration winning those two Georgia
Senate seats," said Michael Hewson, chief markets analyst at CMC
Markets in London, noting Friday's record highs that followed
the Democrats winning control of the U.S. Senate.
"Friday's (U.S.) payrolls report was disappointing,
underscoring the need for more significant fiscal response. But
as we head into week two (of the new year), I think some of that
optimism has been tempered a little bit with profit-taking."
In Asia, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares
outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS dipped 0.2%, having surged 5% last
week to record highs. Japan's Nikkei .N225 was closed for a
holiday after ending at a 30-year high on Friday.
South Korea .KS11 reversed an early jump to fall 0.1%, and
Chinese blue chips .CSI300 fell 1%.
Last week, Wall Street bankers warned of toppy stock markets
and a looming retreat after exuberance from unprecedented
economic stimulus had led to "frothy" asset prices. "I think there's a perception perhaps markets are getting
slightly ahead of themselves," Hewson said.
Mark Haefele, chief investment officer at UBS Global Wealth
Management, said in a note to clients that he didn't see
valuations as a barrier for the equity rally to continue,
"especially against the backdrop of continued policy stimulus
and the rollout of vaccines."
Longer-term Treasury yields were at their highest since
March after Friday's weak jobs report fanned speculation of more
U.S. fiscal stimulus now that the Democrats have control of the
government. President-elect Joe Biden is due to announce plans for
"trillions" in new relief bills this week, much of which will be
paid for by increased borrowing. At the same time, the Federal Reserve is sounding content to
put the onus on fiscal policy. Vice Chair Richard Clarida said
there would be no change soon to the $120 billion of debt the
Fed is buying each month.
With the Fed reluctant to purchase more longer-dated bonds,
10-year Treasury yields US10YT=RR jumped almost 20 basis
points last week to 1.12%, the biggest weekly rise since June.
Mark Cabana at BofA warned stimulus could further pressure
the dollar and cause Fed tapering to begin later this year.
"An early Fed taper creates upside risks to our year-end
1.5% 10-year Treasury target and supports our longer-term
expectations for neutral rates moving towards 3%," he said in a
note to clients.
The poor payrolls report will heighten interest in U.S. data
on inflation, retail sales and consumer sentiment.
Earnings will also be in focus as JP Morgan JPM.N ,
Citigroup C.N and Wells Fargo WFC.N are among the first
companies to release fourth-quarter results on Jan. 15.
The climb in yields in turn offered some support to the
dollar, which rose to its highest in over two weeks at 90.520
=USD against a basket of currencies from last week's low of
89.206.
The euro fell to its lowest since Dec. 23 at $1.2155 EUR= ,
from a recent higher of $1.2349, breaking support around
$1.2190. The dollar also gained to 104.18 yen JPY= from a
trough of 102.57 hit last week.
Gold, which pays no interest, rose 0.1% to $1,850 an ounce
XAU= after skidding as low as $1,816. GOL/
Brent crude oil prices fell, hit by renewed concerns about
global fuel demand amid tough coronavirus lockdowns across the
globe, as well as the stronger dollar. O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 futures fell 1.3% to $55.25. U.S. crude
futures CLc1 lost 0.7% to $51.84 a barrel.

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