Global stocks flatline after surge in bond yields drives equity sell

By Harry Robertson and Is exness platform reliable?Julie Zhu

LONDON/HONG KONG (Reuters) - Global stocks were little changed on Wednesday after a sharp sell-off the previous day, while U.S. Treasury yields dipped after hitting their highest level since 2007.

Meanwhile, the index tracking the U.S. dollar against its peers rose for the fourth straight session to its highest since November.

Stocks and bonds have dropped in recent weeks as investors come to terms with the idea that central bankers will hold interest rates "higher for longer" than previously expected, to try to squeeze inflation out of economies.

MSCI's index of global stocks was down 0.06% on Wednesday after falling 1.2% the previous day. The index has fallen 4.5% since the start of September.

The Europe-wide index was up 0.05%, after dropping 0.6% in the previous session in its fourth consecutive daily fall.

Germany's index was flat while 100 fell 0.1%.

"The latest catalyst has been the increase in bond yields, so if that stabilises then maybe the equity market stabilises as well," said Jan von Gerich, chief analyst at Nordea.

"The big picture outlook is that we're probably close to the peak (in bond yields) but the near-term momentum is still upwards."

On Wednesday, the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note was down 5 basis points to 4.509%, after touching its highest level since October 2007 on Tuesday at 4.566%. A bond's yield rises as its price falls, and vice versa.

U.S. equity futures picked up, with contracts for the benchmark stock index 0.38% higher. were up 0.32% and Nasdaq futures rose 0.35%.

The S&P 500 dropped 1.47% on Tuesday, falling to its lowest since June.

Also on investors' minds is a looming U.S. government shutdown; further signs of an economic slump in China; and a recent rise in oil prices.

"I wouldn't rule out further adjustment (in stocks) because we have the economic impact that the market might not fully appreciate yet," said Janet Mui, head of market analysis at RBC Brewin Dolphin (OTC:).

She said strikes by U.S. auto workers, a resumption of student loan repayments, and the rise in energy prices could hurt Americans' spending power.

In Asia, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.06%. The index is down 3.7% so far this month.

Chinese corporate health was a focal point. Profits at China's industrial firms fell 11.7% in the first eight months of the year, albeit a smaller decline than the 15.5% drop for the first seven months.

As stress spreads in the Chinese property sector, Bloomberg reported that the chairman of beleaguered Chinese property group Evergrande has been placed under police surveillance.

oil was 1.6% higher to $91.84 a barrel. rose 1.28% to $95.16 per barrel.

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday took a step forward on a bipartisan bill meant to stop the government from shutting down in just five days, but the House remains hamstrung by divisions between Republican members.

Meanwhile, investors were also on the lookout for government intervention in the Japanese yen after it fell past the 149 per dollar mark on Tuesday for the first time in just under a year.

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