GLOBAL MARKETS-Trade optimism lifts world stock markets

* Graphic: World FX rates in 2019 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh

By Dhara Ranasinghe
LONDON, Nov 26 (Reuters) - World stocks hit their highest in
almost two years on Tuesday, keeping record highs in sight,
following fresh signs that the United States and China were
working to end a bitter trade war that has dealt a blow to the
global economy.
China's Vice Premier Liu He, U.S. Trade representative
Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin
held a phone call on issues related to a phase one trade
agreement on Tuesday, China's commerce ministry said.
This, alongside a strong Hong Kong debut for Chinese
e-commerce giant Alibaba in the world's largest share sale of
this year, boosted stock markets in Asia .MIAPJ0000PUS .N225
.AXJO .
Alibaba shares 9988.HK BABA.N opened almost 7% higher in
Hong Kong than their issue price and at a small premium to
pricing in New York. The listing has been seen as a vote of
confidence in Hong Kong after months of anti-government protests
that have rocked the former British colony.
European shares were marginally lower in early trade
.GDAXI .FCHI although the pan-European STOXX 600 .STOXX
remained within striking distance of four-year highs.
MSCI's 49-country main world share index edged up 0.1%
.MIWD00000PUS , having touched its highest level in almost two
years. It is less than 1% off record highs hit in early 2018.
Trade in U.S. stock futures were a tad firmer ESC1
1YMc1 .
A flurry of major acquisition activity has also supported
world shares, with France's LVMH LVMH.PA offering to buy U.S.
jeweller Tiffany & Co TIF.N and Charles Schwab Corp's SCHW.N
agreeing to purchase U.S. discount brokerage TD Ameritrade
Holding Corp AMTD.O . Still, optimism over U.S./China trade talks remained the key
driver following positive headlines from the world's two biggest
economies on this front in recent days.
"While it is easy to be sceptical about these sorts of
reports, given we've heard them so many times before,
particularly the ones about a roll back of tariffs, they do tend
to create a momentum all of their own," said Michael Hewson,
chief market analyst at CMC Markets.
"Even when they are denied, and no matter how cynical you
are, it has tended to be a fool's errand in standing in the way
of any move higher."
The United States has imposed tariffs on Chinese goods in a
16-month long dispute over trade practices that the U.S.
government says are unfair. China has responded with its own
tariffs on U.S. goods.
The next important date to watch is Dec. 15, when Washington
is scheduled to impose even more tariffs on Chinese goods.
Japan's yen fell to a two-week low of 109.205 per dollar
JPY=EBS , while the Swiss franc CHF= traded near a six-week
low against the greenback as the optimistic tone sapped demand
for safe-haven currencies.
In the offshore market, the yuan CNH=D3 briefly rose to a
one-week high of 7.0188 versus the dollar.
Yields on safe-haven government bonds in the euro zone
DE10YT=RR nudged higher, although the limited rise in
borrowing costs suggested caution from bond investors.
"What we have seen, especially if I look at the equity side,
is that the optimism (on U.S./China trade talks) is quite high
so we rather have the potential for a risk-off move," said
Sebastian Fellechner, a rates strategist at DZ Bank in
Frankfurt.
Elsewhere, Bitcoin BTC=BTSP , the world's biggest
cryptocurrency, was 1.6% firmer at $7,236.71, recovering from a
six-month low on Monday after the People's Bank of China
launched a fresh crackdown on cryptocurrencies. U.S. crude CLc1 was flat at $58 a barrel. Brent crude
LCOc1 was also little changed on the day at $63.66 per barrel.