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GLOBAL MARKETS-Pandemic fears send stocks, oil, yields lower

Published 04/21/2021, 04:42 AM
Updated 04/21/2021, 04:50 AM
© Reuters.

* European stocks fall 1.9%; S&P 500 down less than 1%
* Dollar ticks up after touching lowest since early March
* Oil drops with eyes on India coronavirus surge

(Updates to U.S. stock market close)
By Rodrigo Campos
NEW YORK, April 20 (Reuters) - A gauge of stock prices
across the world fell on Tuesday and oil prices also slipped as
concern lingered over rising global COVID-19 cases and their
effect on the global economic rebound.
The dollar index ticked up after touching its lowest level
since March 3 and Treasury yields fell, though they still held
above last week's more than one-month lows.
India reported 1,761 deaths from COVID-19 overnight, its
highest daily toll, while Canada and the United States extended
a land-border closure for non-essential travelers.
On Wall Street, travel stocks weighed on sentiment, with
airline and cruise operators falling sharply.
Some of the recent optimism about the leisure industry has
waned as the reopening might take a bit longer than initially
thought, said Michael James, managing director of equity trading
at Wedbush Securities in Los Angeles.
"We're not out of the woods yet when it comes to the COVID
virus and getting to where global economies are reopening," he
said. "Some of that enthusiasm has diminished."
The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI fell 256.33 points,
or 0.75%, to 33,821.3, the S&P 500 .SPX lost 28.32 points, or
0.68%, at 4,134.94 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC dropped
128.50 points, or 0.92%, to 13,786.27.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index .STOXX lost 1.90% and
MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe .MIWD00000PUS shed
0.85%.
Emerging market stocks lost 0.07%. MSCI's broadest index of
Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS closed 0.08%
lower, while Japan's Nikkei .N225 lost 1.97%.
After touching its lowest level in nearly seven weeks
overnight, the dollar index =USD rose slightly.
The currencies and interest rate markets could be relatively
calm for another few weeks as the Federal Reserve and the
European Central Bank each take their time adjusting their rate
policies, said Mazen Issa, senior currency strategist at TD
Securities.
"There really isn't a strong catalyst in either direction
this month to really break us out of ranges," Issa said.
The dollar index =USD rose 0.166%, with the euro EUR=
unchanged at $1.2033.
The Japanese yen strengthened 0.08% versus the greenback at
108.09 per dollar, while sterling GBP= was last trading at
$1.3939, down 0.31% on the day.
Tufts University economist Brian Bethune said the lower
yields stood in contrast with their level close to 1.8% on March
30, reflecting worries that public health gains against the
virus have stalled in Brazil, Canada and other countries.
"There's a repricing of what the international environment
is going to look like," even though the U.S. economic recovery
looks strong, Bethune said.
Benchmark 10-year Treasury notes US10YT=RR last rose 11/32
in price to yield 1.5624%, from 1.599% late on Monday.
Concern over rising COVID-19 cases in India continued to
weigh on the oil market.
"Given India's position as a major crude oil importer ...
new restrictions would be very bad for the energy complex," said
Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho.
U.S. crude CLc1 recently fell 1.21% to $62.44 per barrel
and Brent LCOc1 was at $66.50, down 0.82% on the day.
Spot gold XAU= added 0.5% to $1,778.80 an ounce. Silver
XAG= gained 0.07% to $25.83.
Bitcoin BTC=BTSP last rose 2.4% to $57,030.36.


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World FX rates YTD http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
Global asset performance http://tmsnrt.rs/2yaDPgn
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