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GLOBAL MARKETS-Sterling falls on new Brexit fears, stocks edge higher

Published 18/12/2019, 03:27 am
© Reuters.  GLOBAL MARKETS-Sterling falls on new Brexit fears, stocks edge higher
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(Adds U.S. market open, byline; changes dateline; previous LONDON)

* MSCI's world index gains as European shares fall

* Pound skids 1% as hard Brexit fears re-emerge

By Herbert Lash

NEW YORK, Dec 17 (Reuters) - The dollar rose on Tuesday amid concerns about Britain's setting a hard deadline to reach a new trade deal with the European Union, while global equity markets gained, lifted by a resurgent U.S. housing market that bodes well for the economy.

European stocks fell from record highs and sterling dropped more than 1% as reports that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was set to put a no-deal exit from the EU back on the table. will use his control of parliament after last week's resounding election victory to outlaw any extension of the Brexit transition period beyond 2020, a bold move that spooked financial markets.

The pound GBP= traded at $1.3135, down 1.46% on the day, while a profit warning from consumer goods giant Unilever ULVR.L sent its shares down more than 7% and helped push the broader European STOXX 600 index .STOXX down 0.72%.

U.S.-China trade optimism and reassuring Chinese economic data had driven Asian and emerging market stocks to 18-month highs overnight, but stocks tumbled in Europe when markets in London, Frankfurt and Paris opened. .EU

The resurgence of uncertainty over Britain's departure from the EU on Jan. 31 failed to carry through to Wall Street. Data showing U.S. homebuilding increased more than expected in November and permits for future home construction surged to a 12-1/2-year high lifted U.S. stocks, albeit modestly.

Evidence of a global economic revival is becoming increasingly clear, said Jim Paulsen, chief investment strategist at Leuthold Group in Minneapolis, citing U.S., Chinese and European data.

"The financial markets are just being bombarded by great economic reports this week," he said.

Paulsen pointed to U.S. manufacturing output rebounding more than expected in November, rising 1.1%, while industrial output also rose 1.1% last month, according to the Federal Reserve. Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 51.63 points, or 0.18%, to 28,287.52. The S&P 500 .SPX gained 2.24 points, or 0.07%, to 3,193.69 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC dropped 1.35 points, or 0.02%, to 8,812.88.

Stock markets in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Seoul all gained more than 1% and MSCI's all-country world index .MIWD00000PUS set a record high, putting its gains for 2019 at almost 23%, its best year in a decade and the fourth-best year ever.

The Australian dollar AUD=D3 also came under pressure after the minutes of this month's Reserve Bank of Australia meeting suggested the central bank might cut interest rates again when it next meets in February. RBA has already cut three times since June, taking rates to a record low of 0.75%.

The dollar index .DXY rose 0.13%, with the euro EUR= up 0.08% to $1.1151. The Japanese yen JPY= weakened 0.02% versus the greenback at 109.54 per dollar.

Oil rose further above $65 a barrel, supported by hopes that the U.S.-China trade deal will bolster oil demand in 2020 and the prospect of lower U.S. crude supplies.

Brent crude LCOc1 , the global benchmark, rose 59 cents to $65.93 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 added 64 cents to $60.85 a barrel.

Palladium, which is widely used in catalytic converters for car and truck exhausts, remained a focus, though, as it sped toward $2,000 an ounce for the first time. prices were steady.

Spot gold XAU= rose 0.02% to $1,476.24 an ounce.

Benchmark 10-year notes US10YT=RR last rose 3/32 in price to yield 1.8801%.

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