By Helen Reid
LONDON (Reuters) - World stocks hit a three-week high on Thursday and the euro and euro zone bond yields extended gains as investors priced in a potentially earlier-than-expected wind-down of ECB stimulus.
The selloff in safe-haven Bunds and U.S. Treasuries drove money into riskier assets, especially financial stocks, despite investors' anxiety over how a G7 leaders summit that kicks off on Friday will pan out in view of global trade concerns.
Bank stocks, which tend to gain from higher bond yields, drove European shares up in early trade. The pan-European banks index jumped 0.6 percent, supporting the STOXX 600.
Banks remain the worst-performing sector in Europe year-to-date, however, having been dented by a selloff triggered by political risk in Italy.
MSCI's index of world stocks rose 0.2 percent to its highest since May 14, helped by Asian shares which climbed to an 11-week high overnight.
European stocks pared gains by mid-morning, however, as the euro rose, weighing on exporting companies.
The single currency hit its highest level since May 15 at $1.1838, and traded up 0.5 percent at $1.1827 by 1033 GMT in its fourth straight session of gains. It helped drive the dollar index down 0.4 percent to 93.295.
Germany's benchmark 10-year bond rose in step with the euro, breaching 0.50 percent for the first time in two weeks on signs that the European Central Bank could soon call an end to its stimulus programme.
The selloff in German Bunds spread across the Atlantic as the U.S. benchmark 10-year yield hit a 2-1/2 week high of 2.9940 percent, edging closer to the 3 percent level it breached a month ago.
The ECB's Chief Economist Peter Praet said on Wednesday that robust growth made it increasingly confident inflation was on its way back to target, raising chances it may reveal more about the end of the bond-buying programme at its meeting next week.
Praet's comments took the market by surprise, given a recent slowdown in the euro zone economy.
Data on Thursday showed German industrial orders plunged unexpectedly in April, a fourth consecutive monthly drop.
"It's a complex backdrop where ultimately the economy is not doing badly, but the economic surprises in Europe have not been to the upside," said Antoine Lesne, head of EMEA strategy and research at State Street's SPDR ETF.
"Bad momentum has eased the overall backdrop the ECB is navigating - but if you're looking at the broader macro picture it is still positive for risk assets."
Analysts at Bank of America Merrill Lynch said Praet's speech showed the central bank was willing to look through the recent soft patch in data.
TOO BULLISH?
The risk-on moves across markets coincided with a calendar of potentially destabilising political events.
The run-up to the G7 summit has been dominated by a widening divide over trade between U.S. President Trump and the club's remaining six members.
But gauges of investor anxiety, including stock volatility, showed little sign of strain, flummoxing some investors.
The VIX, which measures volatility on the S&P 500, was last trading at 11.79. It has fallen from more than 50 to less than 12 in just 83 days - a record decline, traders said.
"I am amazed to see everyone so bullish," said Charles de Boissezon, deputy head of global asset allocation and equity strategy at Societe Generale.
"Everyone assumes that ...central banks will be behind the curve by default, but it's not that obvious."
Commodities continued to climb thanks to a still strong global economy and tight supply.
Copper hit its highest level this year at $7,295 per tonne, driven up 0.8 percent by supply concerns over disruption at the Escondida mine in Chile. It was on track for its sixth straight day of gains, its longest run since December.
Oil prices also rose as plunging exports from OPEC member Venezuela crimped supply in the market.
Brent crude futures traded up 0.8 percent at $75.93 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude up 0.6 percent at $65.13.
Gold prices edged higher, with spot gold trading at $1,298.75 per ounce, up 0.2 percent.
In emerging markets, stocks climbed 0.4 percent to a three-week high, supported by the weaker dollar. UBS analysts declared "buying time" for emerging stocks, upgrading Mexico, Poland and Colombia while downgrading Brazil.
(Reporting by Helen Reid, editing by John Stonestreet)
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
