* Equities rally pauses after eight days
* Markets still supported by vaccine hopes
* Oil sags as virus cases continue to surge
* Government bonds back in favour
*
By Marc Jones
LONDON, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Global shares were on course on
Thursday to end their longest winning streak in over a year, one
that has lifted them more than 10%, as the post-U.S. election
and coronavirus vaccine bull run paused.
Europe's main markets 0#.INDEXE opened down 0.7% and Wall
Street futures fell ESc1 . For the first time in November,
MSCI's 49-country world index .MIWD00000PUS was in the red.
Asia had finished flat.
Big Tech had rebounded on Wednesday as investors switched
back to winners like Amazon and Netflix In Europe,
investors returned to safe-haven government bonds.
"What we don't really agree with is that you need to rotate
out of tech into value stocks," said Willem Sels, chief market
strategist at HSBC Private Bank, referring to stocks that do
well in normal circumstances when economies are open.
"We don't think either that a recovery (helped by a vaccine)
would lead to a sustained sell-off in U.S. Treasuries. The Fed
has signalled it is on hold," he added.
In the currency market, the euro was near $1.18, in the
middle of the $1.16-$1.20 range it's been in since late July.
Sterling was down 0.5% amid more Brexit uncertainty and as data
showed the UK economy losing speed again.
Turkey's lira took a breather after President Tayyip
Erdogan's promise to overhaul unconventional monetary policy and
the replacement of his son-in-law as finance minister caused it
to rise 10%. EMRG/FRX
The New Zealand dollar NZD=D3 soared for a second session
to a 19-month high as investors unwound bets on the introduction
of negative interest rates.
The kiwi got an added boost after Reserve Bank of New
Zealand Assistant Governor Christian Hawkesby said the economy
required less stimulus than it did in August. "The weakness in broad USD (dollar) and reflationary
momentum in equities, which we saw on the back of the U.S.
election and improvements in the vaccine situation, seem to be
fading across FX and equities," said Christin Tuxen, Head of FX
Research at Danske Bank.
HOLD GOLD
Global oil benchmark Brent LCOc1 snapped three consecutive
days of gains to dip to $43.46 a barrel, although it remained
near a two-month high.
Traders were tempering expectations of an early release of a
COVID-19 vaccine. The International Energy Agency also raised
doubts on Thursday about a quick recovery in demand, amid
surging infections in Europe and the United States.
Most of Europe's main economies are already grappling with a
wave of infections and new social restrictions. New York also
ordered bars and restaurants to start closing early on Wednesday
after U.S. cases hit records.
Until the timing of the availability of a vaccine becomes
clearer, oil prices "downside could turn out to be limited, but
serious upside potential is unlikely to develop in the immediate
future," said Tamas Varga, analyst at PVM Oil.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries also
revised its demand forecast on Wednesday, saying global oil
demand will recover more slowly in 2021 than previously expected
because of rising coronavirus cases. Safe-haven gold edged up. Spot gold XAU= rose 0.4% to
$1,872 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures GCv1 were 0.3%
higher.
"We still have some gold," HSBC's Sels said. "With Europe
still in lockdown and some political risks remaining, you can't
put all your chips on one colour."
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Global assets http://tmsnrt.rs/2jvdmXl
Global currencies vs. dollar http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
Emerging markets http://tmsnrt.rs/2ihRugV
MSCI All Country Wolrd Index Market Cap http://tmsnrt.rs/2EmTD6j
Stocks hit new highs https://tmsnrt.rs/38vx2mG
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