GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks edge higher as eyes on stimulus; oil dips

* U.S. stocks higher early
* MSCI global equity index on nine-day winning streak

(Updates with early U.S. markets activity, changes byline,
dateline, previous LONDON)
By Caroline Valetkevitch
NEW YORK Feb 11 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were higher and
MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe was set for a ninth day
of gains on Thursday as investors were optimistic about more
fiscal stimulus, while oil prices slipped.
Investors digested a dovish Federal Reserve outlook. Fed
Chairman Jerome Powell reassured investors on Wednesday that
interest rates will remain low for some time to spur the economy
and jobs growth, but provided no new insights on monetary
policy.
"There is room for the market to take a breather but usually
there is some sort of catalyst that gets that going," said Tom
Martin, senior portfolio manager at Globalt Investments in
Atlanta. "And right now the news isn't providing you that -
fiscal stimulus, monetary stimulus, coronavirus information and
earnings are all pretty positive."
U.S.-listed shares of cannabis companies reversed premarket
gains to drop sharply after the sector caught the attention of
Reddit-inspired retail investors this week.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 8.7 points, or
0.03%, to 31,446.5, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 7.67 points, or
0.20%, to 3,917.55 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 75.88
points, or 0.54%, to 14,048.42.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index .STOXX rose 0.42% and
MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe .MIWD00000PUS gained
0.29%.
In the cryptocurrency market, bitcoin hit another record of
$48,481.45 BTC=BTSP , as it continues its march toward the
$50,000 mark. It was last up 6.3% at $47,685.
The dollar slipped on Thursday in quiet trading, weighed
down by slightly weaker-than-expected U.S. jobless claims data
that followed tepid inflation numbers and the dovish message
from the Fed the previous session. The dollar index =USD fell 0.003%, with the euro EUR= up
0.07% to $1.2125.
Benchmark U.S. Treasury yields held below recent highs.
Investors continued to absorb disappointing inflation data from
the previous day.
Benchmark 10-year notes US10YT=RR last fell 1/32 in price
to yield 1.1549%, from 1.152% late on Wednesday.
Oil prices dipped after recent strong gains. Brent crude
LCOc1 fell 20 cents, or 0.3%, to $61.27 a barrel by 1453 GMT
and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 lost 19 cents, or
0.3%, to $58.49.
Spot gold XAU= dropped 0.4% to $1,835.81 an ounce.

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Asia stock markets https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
Asia-Pacific valuations https://tmsnrt.rs/2Dr2BQA
MSCI world stock index cruising at record highs https://tmsnrt.rs/3qaUqvu
World FX rates http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
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