* Graphic: Global asset performance http://tmsnrt.rs/2yaDPgn
* Graphic: World FX rates http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
* Reuters Live Markets blog: LIVE/
(Updates prices, adds commentary and PMI detail)
By Elizabeth Howcroft
LONDON, March 1 (Reuters) - European shares jumped on Monday
as bond yields stayed below their recent spikes, while risk
assets also rallied and Wall Street futures indicated the
optimism would continue into the U.S. session.
The rise in European shares followed solid gains in Asian
stock markets and saw the STOXX 600 up 1.2% by 1202 GMT
.STOXX . London's FTSE 100 .FTSE 1.1% higher and Germany's
DAX up 0.7% .GDAXI .
The MSCI world equity index, which tracks shares in 49
countries, rose 0.4%, recovering from the previous session's
multi-week low .MIWD00000PUS .
The much-anticipated $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill was
passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on Saturday, and now
moves to the Senate. In the bond market, key yields fell from highs seen last
week when market participants became wary that when economies
re-open from coronavirus lockdowns a combination of massive
government stimulus and pent-up consumer demand will cause
inflation to accelerate. The U.S. 10-year treasury yield was down around 3 basis
points at 1.429% at 1207 GMT, having dropped from Thursday's
one-year high of 1.614% US10YT=RR - although it did edge up
slightly overnight.
Germany's benchmark 10-year Bund yield was down around 5
basis points, also below last week's spike DE10YT=RR .
"I think more than anything, people were spooked at the
speed of the rise, rather than anything else," said Michael
Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK.
"The markets are pricing in a (U.S.) rate hike for next
year, and a couple in 2023, and that's what the Fed needs to
push back against – and they haven't done that aggressively
enough."
He said markets were being boosted by expectations that U.S.
Federal Reserve officials due to speak in coming days will
provide stronger verbal signals against the rise in bond yields.
"There is little doubt in my mind that central banks will
eventually lean quite hard against a sustained rise in yields,"
wrote Deutsche Bank strategist Jim Reid in a note to clients.
"They simply can't afford to see it happen with debt so
high."
PENT-UP DEMAND
PMI data for February is also in focus this week. Germany's
factory activity rose to its highest level in more than three
years last month, driven by higher demand from China, the United
States and Europe. Manufacturing in Japan grew at its fastest pace in more than
two years in February, as strong orders led to the first output
rise since the start of the pandemic. But China's factory activity grew at a slower pace than in
the previous month, missing market expectations, after COVID-19
related disruptions earlier in the year. Oil prices jumped on Monday, with Brent crude futures
LCOc1 and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures
CLc1 both up around 1% at 1221 GMT. Front-month prices for both contracts touched 13-month highs
last week. Both contracts ended February 18% higher.
The dollar rose, gaining 0.3% against a basket of currencies
by 1222 GMT =USD . The Australian dollar - which is seen as a
liquid proxy for risk appetite - recovered some recent losses
AUD=D3 . Wall Street looked set for a higher open, with S&P 500
futures up 1.1% EScv1 . Nasdaq futures were up 1.3% at 1223 GMT
NQc1 , suggesting a recovery for tech stocks.
Bitcoin recovered some recent losses, up 5% at around
$47,676 at 1227 GMT BTC=BTSP .
Also helping sentiment was news that deliveries of the newly
approved Johnson & Johnson JNJ.N COVID-19 vaccine should start
on Tuesday.
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Emerging markets http://tmsnrt.rs/2ihRugV
Global asset performance http://tmsnrt.rs/2yaDPgn
Germany 10-year https://tmsnrt.rs/3sEKmfo
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