* Graphic: World FX rates in 2019 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
* Gold hits seven-year high
* Oil hits highest since September
* MSCI All-Country World Index wipes out 2020's gains
By Ritvik Carvalho
LONDON, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Tensions in the Middle East after
the United States killed an Iranian general erased new year's
gains for world stocks on Monday as investors pushed safe-haven
gold to a seven-year high and oil jumped to its highest since
September.
The United States detected a heightened state of alert by
Iran's missile forces, as President Donald Trump warned the U.S.
would strike back, "perhaps in a disproportionate manner", if
Iran attacked any American person or target. Iraq's parliament on Sunday recommended all foreign troops
be ordered out of the country after the U.S. drone attack killed
the Iranian military commander and an Iraqi militia leader.
Spot gold XAU= gained 1.8% to $1,579.72 per ounce to reach
its highest since April 2013. GOL/ Oil prices extended gains
on fears any Middle East conflict could disrupt global supplies.
O/R Brent crude LCOc1 futures jumped past the $70 a barrel
mark, while U.S. crude CLc1 climbed 1.7% to $64.12.
European shares extended losses and were set for their worst
day in a week, with the pan-European STOXX 600 index down 1% by
midday in London. The European oil and gas stock index .SXEP
rose about 0.86%, the only gains, to reach its highest since
July. .EU
"Geopolitical events by their nature are unpredictable, but
previous periods of increased tensions suggest that the impact
on wider markets tends to be short-lived, with more lasting
effects confined to local markets," said Mark Haefele, chief
investment officer at UBS Global Wealth Management.
"In general, this supports holding a diversified portfolio."
NEW YEAR GAINS ERASED
MSCI's All-Country World Index .MIWD00000PUS , which tracks
shares in 47 countries, was down 0.34%, erasing all its new
year's gains in its biggest two-day fall since early December.
In Asia, Japan's Nikkei .N225 slid almost 2%. E-Mini
futures for the S&P 500 ESc1 fell 0.6%, indicating a lower
open on Wall Street later. .N
Chinese shares, which had opened in the red, reversed their
losses, as did Australian shares, which ended the day flat. Hong
Kong's Hang Seng index .HSI lost 0.8%.
Sovereign bonds benefited from the safety bid, with yields
on 10-year Treasuries US10YT=RR down at 1.7725% after falling
10 basis points on Friday.
The yen remained the favoured safe haven among currencies
thanks to Japan's massive holdings of foreign assets. Investors
assume Japanese funds would repatriate their money during a true
global crisis, pushing the yen higher.
"You can't accuse the markets of over-reacting," said
Societe Generale strategist Kit Juckes. "FX moves are small,
slightly lower bond yields, slightly softer equities, but
nothing is going mental."
On Monday, the dollar was last at 108.05 yen JPY= , after
falling to a three-month trough of 107.77 earlier in the
session.
The dollar was steadier against other majors, with the euro
up at $1.1202 EUR= . Against a basket of currencies, the dollar
was holding at 96.562 .DXY .