* Dollar index to post strongest week since April
* Oil heading for weekly drop on virus-linked demand
concerns
* Graphic: 2020 asset performance http://tmsnrt.rs/2yaDPgn
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
(Updates prices; adds rouble)
By Rodrigo Campos
NEW YORK, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Stocks were set to fall more
than 2% this week and the dollar was on track for its strongest
week since April as concern over the economic effect of a second
wave of virus-related lockdowns continued to weigh on investors'
risk appetite.
But tech stocks led the way higher on Wall Street on Friday,
as they have of late on days governed by worries over the
economic recovery. The gains offset losses elsewhere, and an
index of major stock markets globally was up on the day.
Other than COVID-19 angst, the week was dominated by
speculation over the likelihood of another stimulus package to
support the American economy.
"There's evidence of a slowdown in the United States, which
we think is temporary, but it would be reinforced if there is no
additional fiscal package," said Sebastien Galy, senior macro
strategist at Nordea Asset Management.
Bets on more stimulus increased after squabbling U.S.
political parties talked about another super-sized stimulus
package but the rise in the dollar =USD and
demand for safe-haven government bonds remained telling.
GVD/EUR
On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose
265.95 points, or 0.99%, to 27,081.39, the S&P 500 .SPX gained
41.35 points, or 1.27%, to 3,287.94 and the Nasdaq Composite
.IXIC added 197.92 points, or 1.85%, to 10,870.19.
The S&P was on track for four consecutive weekly losses, the
longest such streak in over a year.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index .STOXX lost 0.10% and
MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe .MIWD00000PUS gained
0.84%. The global index was down over 2% for the week.
Emerging market stocks lost 0.03%. MSCI's broadest index of
Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS closed 0.38%
higher, while Japan's Nikkei .N225 rose 0.51% to end a
three-day week.
Treasury yields remained little changed in a week where the
10-year traded in a 5-basis-point range.
"Overall the market remains fairly range-bound. There is
some intraday, intra-week volatility that when you really look
at it, we just don't go anywhere," said Justin Lederer, an
interest rate strategist at Cantor Fitzgerald.
But the relapse in sentiment has hit emerging market debt,
especially countries with weak credit ratings. Argentina's newly
restructured bonds have lost around 25%, making it the worst
return to markets since Greece in 2012, while plenty of other
countries have seen 10% slides. EMRG/FRX
China's government bonds gained acceptance into one of the
world's most coveted bond benchmarks, the FTSE Russell WGBI.
CGBs will be introduced late next year. In the currency markets, the dollar index climbed for the
fourth time this week and was set for its strongest weekly
showing since April.
The dollar index =USD rose 0.314% on Friday, with the euro
EUR= down 0.38% to $1.1628.
The Japanese yen weakened 0.18% versus the greenback at
105.59 per dollar, while sterling GBP= was last trading at
$1.2732, down 0.13% on the day.
Demand for the greenback was boosted in part by Washington's
failure to create a stimulus package and concerns ahead of the
U.S. election, according to Juan Perez, senior currency trader
and strategist at Tempus Inc.
"In times like that the chaos and havoc and blurriness of
the future is so intense and so dense, that's when the dollar is
going to rise once again," said Perez.
The Russian rouble sank to a near six-month low against the
dollar. Geopolitical concerns further weighed on Russian assets
with the threat of sanctions over the poisoning of Kremlin
critic Alexei Navalny, in which Moscow denies wrongdoing. The
crisis in neighboring Belarus also continued to linger.
The rouble lost 1.10% versus the U.S. dollar at 78.17.
The dollar's strength this week has also battered
commodities, with gold set for its biggest weekly drop in six.
On Friday, spot gold XAU= dropped 0.2% to $1,864.96 an ounce.
GOL/
Silver tumbled 14% this week so far, a drop not seen in over
six months. The spot price XAG= fell 0.58% to $23.07 on the
day.
Oil prices fell and were set for a weekly decline mostly due
to mounting worries about the impact on fuel demand of a
widespread resurgence in coronavirus infections. O/R
U.S. crude CLc1 recently fell 0.02% to $40.30 per barrel
and Brent LCOc1 was at $41.94, flat on the day.
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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 World over the years https://tmsnrt.rs/2EwZNCR
EM FX feels the pain https://tmsnrt.rs/33ZOY4Y
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