GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks hit record high as Biden, vaccine lift investor outlook

* MSCI's all-country world index hits record peak
* European futures flat in early trade
* Asia shares give up gains as China shares hobbled by
defaults
* Risk-sensitive currencies supported, bitcoin near record
* 2020 asset performance http://tmsnrt.rs/2yaDPgn

By Hideyuki Sano and Katanga Johnson
TOKYO/WASHINGTON, Nov 25 (Reuters) - World shares rallied to
a record peak on Wednesday following an overnight surge that saw
the Dow Jones benchmark crack 30,000 for the first time as
investors cheered a dramatically improved global outlook.
The formal start of U.S. president-elect Joe Biden's
transition to the White House and increasing confidence a
COVID-19 vaccine would be ready soon ushered in renewed appetite
for global shares.
After weeks of waiting, President Donald Trump's
administration on Monday cleared the way for Biden to prepare
for the start of his administration, giving him access to
briefings and funding. "The main thing now is that it has become official that the
Biden administration will start. And we have ample liquidity
from the world's central banks," said Norihiro Fujito, chief
investment strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley
Securities.
"I expect the honeymoon between financial markets and the
Biden administration and stocks' bull trend could continue until
around his inauguration in January," he said, though expects
reality checks to follow his swearing in.
Reports that Biden planned to nominate former Federal
Reserve Chair Janet Yellen as Treasury Secretary -- a move that
could shift the focus heavily toward efforts to tackle growing
economic inequality -- also cheered markets.
That pushed MSCI's broadest gauge of world stocks
.MIWD00000PUS up 0.1% to a record level.
In Asia, Japan's Nikkei .N225 rallied 0.5% to a 29-year
high while MSCI's index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan
.MIAPJ0000PUS gave up early gains to trade down 0.2% as
Chinese shares were capped by worries about rising debt
defaults. Euro Stoxx 50 futures STXEc1 of euro zone shares were
little changed in early trade.
On Wall Street on Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average
.DJI rose 1.54% to 30,046.24 while the S&P 500 .SPX gained
1.62% to 3,635.41, also a record high.
E-mini futures for the S&P 500 EScv1 added 0.1% on
Wednesday.
"Sentiment is running very hot as we come to the end of a
cracker month for risk assets, so it does make you wonder
whether the market is starting to exhibit signs of euphoria, and
is due for a bit of a retracement in the short-term," said IG
Australia markets analyst Kyle Rodda.
"But for all the risks the pandemic poses over the next few
months...market participants appear happy to look through it
all, and position for a post-pandemic world."
Investors bet forthcoming virus vaccine shots could ease the
pain on various industries that have been hit hardest by the
pandemic, from tourism to energy.
Global energy shares .MIWD0EN00PUS have risen almost 34%
so far this month, on track for their best month on record.
In the foreign exchange market, risk-sensitive currencies
held an upper hand against safe havens, including the U.S.
dollar.
The euro held firm at $1.1900 EUR= , near the top of its
recent trading range. The British pound stood at $1.3346
GBP=D4 , near Monday's two-month high, supported also by hopes
of a Brexit deal.
Bitcoin gave up 1.4% to trade at $18,901 BTC=BTSP , though
it still stayed within sight of its record peak of $19,666
touched almost three years ago.
On the other hand, the yen, seen as a safe harbour currency,
was little changed at 104.56 per dollar JPY= .
Gold has also lost lustre, hitting a four-month low of
$1,800.80 on Tuesday and last stood at $1,806.10 per ounce
XAU= .
U.S. Treasuries were also pressured by expectations that
Yellen's nomination as Treasury Secretary could ease the passage
of a fiscal stimulus package, which would mean more debt.
The 10-year U.S. yield rose to 0.880% US10YT=RR , compared
with Thursday's low of 0.818%.
Oil prices also held near highest levels since March on the
improved global economic outlook.
Brent futures LCOc1 gained 0.5% to $48.20 per barrel,
hitting a high last seen in early March.

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World FX rates in 2020 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
2020 asset performance http://tmsnrt.rs/2yaDPgn
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(Editing by Sam Holmes)