World stock prices hold near record highs

World stock prices held near record highs on Wednesday, the MSCI’s all-country world index (.MIWD00000PUS) has shown.

MSCI’s all-country world index (.MIWD00000PUS) last stood at 716.64, after scaling an intraday high of 718.19 on Tuesday, led by gains in European stocks.

Meanwhile, the U.S. bond yields flirted with their lowest levels in a month. On Wall Street on Tuesday, the S&P500 (.SPX) was steady and near its record high as investors looked to Thursday’s inflation data.

The 10-year U.S. debt yield, on the other hand, fell to 1.513% , its lowest level in a month, and down a quarter of a percentage point from a 14-month peak of 1.776% hit in March. It last stood at 1.533%, almost flat so far on Wednesday.

In Asia, the MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) ticked down 0.15% and Japan’s Nikkei average (.N225) shed
0.25%.

However, major currencies were steady. The euro stood flat at $1.2173 , while the dollar fetched 109.50 yen

Investors have scaled back expectations that the European Central Bank may indicate a plan to reduce its asset purchases when it reviews policy on Thursday.

Oil prices held firm after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that even if the United States were to reach a nuclear deal with Iran, hundreds of U.S. sanctions on Tehran would remain in place.
U.S. crude futures closed above $70 per barrel for the first time since Oct 2018 on Tuesday and last stood at $70.21, up 0.2%.
Brent futures rose 0.2% to $72.35, staying near their highest level since early 2020.

Reuters/Hauwa Abu