World stock rally undeterred at 11-month high

 

The 2009 stock market rally continued unabated on Thursday with world equities at an 11-month high, emerging market stocks moving further beyond pre-Lehman demise levels and Japan's index up nearly 2 percent.

The dollar, which has suffered from investors' improved appetite for risk, weakened against a basket of major currencies and was at depths last seen in late September 2008.

"The markets go from strength to strength. As we reach highs, the herd mentality of investors may well see the markets move further north" said John Murphy, analyst at ODL Securities.

MSCI'S all-country world stock index was up 0.3 percent having hit a new 2009 high, matching levels of October last year. It has now risen around 65 percent since hitting a low on March 9.

The benchmark MSCI emerging market stock index, was up three-quarters of a percent after reaching a new 12-month high.

Japan's Nikkei earlier closed up 1.95 percent and he pan-European FTSEuro first 300 gained 0.1 percent.

Investors have become increasing willing to take on riskier assets like stocks and emerging currencies in their portfolios over the past six months as signs of economic recovery or at least a slowdown in decline have boosted sentiment.

ODL's Murphy, however, reflected a common view that the rally will not continue as it is. 

"One needs to recognise that markets never move in straight lines, and we are approaching October, historically the month for crashes," he said.

The Bank of England was due to meet later, with analysts expecting it to keep interest rates at a record low of 0.5 percent.

Low interest rates across the world have been one key element in the recovery of risk appetite.

DOLLAR WEAKER

The dollar hovered near its 2009 lows as the firm shares and commodity prices helped investor sentiment.

The dollar index, which tracks its performance against a basket of six major currencies, edged down slightly. On Wednesday, it hit its lowest level in almost a year.

The euro was up very slightly against the dollar at $1.4567 but the dollar gained 0.1 percent to 92.16 Japanese yen.

Euro zone government bond futures fell to a one-month low, extending the previous session's steep decline as stocks rose.

The two-year Schatz was yielding 1.26 percent, anchored by expectations that European Central Bank rates will stay low for an extended period, while the 10-year Bund yielded 3.36 percent, essentially flat.