* ECB announces fresh stimulus measures
* Euro STOXX 600 closes at highest July 29
* MSCI's world equity index touches highest since July 31
* Trade headlines whipsaw markets (New throughout, updates prices, market activity and comments to close of U.S. markets)
By Chuck Mikolajczak
NEW YORK, Sept 12 (Reuters) - A gauge of global stock markets rose for a seventh straight day in choppy trading on Thursday after hints of progress in the U.S.-China trade dispute, pushing bond yields off lows hit earlier on the heels of new stimulus measures put forth by the European Central Bank.
Wall Street equity indexes were buffeted in early trading, moving to early highs and then quickly paring gains on conflicting reports about whether Trump administration officials had considered offering a limited trade deal to China. are still on the trade war seesaw today," said David Carter, chief investment officer at Lenox Wealth Advisors in New York. "We had some good news on trade which is why markets are up, but the seesaw may drop on any signs of failure."
Stocks have drawn support from signs of a thaw in tensions between the world's two largest economies, including China's announcement of some tariff exemptions on Wednesday. of in-person talks, the United States welcomed China's pledge to buy agricultural goods, though the threat of tariff hikes remained. importers made their largest U.S. soybean purchases since at least June, traders told Reuters. Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 46.02 points, or 0.17%, to 27,183.06, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 8.71 points, or 0.29%, to 3,009.64 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 24.79 points, or 0.3%, to 8,194.47.
Stocks in Europe were also whipsawed by the trade reports after climbing on the ECB policy statement. The broad STOXX 600 index rose as much as 0.75% before closing with a modest advance as banks pared gains. European Central Bank promised an indefinite supply of fresh asset purchases and cut interest rates deeper into negative territory to support the economy. pan-European STOXX 600 index .STOXX rose 0.20% to close at its highest level since July 29 and MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe .MIWD00000PUS gained 0.39%.
Euro zone bond yields fell and the euro weakened following the ECB announcement but both eventually reversed course as the stimulus measures failed to live up to market expectations and investors reacted to trade headlines. falling as low as a negative 0.124%, 30-year German yields DE30YT=RR were last at a negative 0.017% after moving into positive territory earlier this week.
The dollar index .DXY , tracking the unit against six major currencies, fell 0.28%, with the euro EUR= up 0.51% to $1.1065. optimism also pushed yields on U.S. Treasuries higher after early declines in sync with European bonds. 10-year notes US10YT=RR last fell 13/32 in price to yield 1.7785%, from 1.733% late on Wednesday. Yields rose further as soft demand at a $16 billion 30-year government auction touched off selling in the U.S. bond market. market focus now turns to the U.S. Federal Reserve, which is expected to cut rates next Wednesday.
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