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Stocks strong on financial optimism, metals shine

Gold and copper started the week at record highs, with world stocks not far off, buoyed by financier optimism over slower inflation, financial growth and China's efforts to resolve its home crisis.

Gold climbed more than 1% to a record $2,449.89 an ounce, while three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange rose as much as 4.1% to a historic high of $11,104.50,. after climbing 28% so far this year.

That the 2 metals were rallying together was noteworthy, said. experts at Rabobank, as the 2 tend to supply various. signals, with copper being reflective of the financial outlook -. owing to its importance as an industrial input - and gold being. an indication of wider sentiment.

They suggested a shift by central banks into bullion was one. aspect behind the relocations, and also potentially a shift of home. cost savings from stocks into products.

Hints of a safe house quote for gold, after a helicopter crash. killed Iran's president, might likewise be in the mix, though it. failed to show up in other property classes. For copper, traders. pointed to speculation and short covering along with an expected. pick-up in demand for products from China after it announced. historical actions on Friday to stabilise its home sector.

Beijing on Monday left benchmark rates on hold, as anticipated.

BRILLIANT SPOTS

MSCI's broadest index of Asia Pacific shares outside Japan. increased to its greatest in two years on Monday while. the benchmark provider's world share index was. up a whisker, simply shy of Thursday's all-time peak.

Blue chip indexes in France, Britain and. Germany, which likewise struck records last week, were all up. 0.2-0.5%, S&P 500 futures were up a touch too.

Global financial bright spots continue to prevail, stated. Vincent Chaigneau, head of research study at Generali Investments,. indicating easing inflation and increasing salaries supporting real. disposable income and bolstering domestic demand.

U.S. inflation slowed a touch in April, information revealed last. week, triggering markets to position carefully for a September. rate cut by the Federal Reserve and driving a cross-asset rally.

British inflation data is due Wednesday and will be a. essential factor in assessing if the Bank of England will cut. rates in June - when the European Reserve bank is also set to. ease policy - or holds off till August.

Likewise due this week are results from chip darling Nvidia,. international company activity data, a New Zealand rate choice, and. remarks from U.S. policymakers and the minutes of their latest. conference.

Two-year U.S. Treasury yields ended recently. four basis points (bps) lower at 4.825% and were consistent on. Monday. Ten-year U.S. yields were down 8.4 bps last. week and last at 4.418%.

BIG IN JAPAN

Speculation has actually grown that Japanese rates will rise above. no, driving government bond yields to their greatest in more. than a decade.

Ten-year yields went up 2.5 bps to 0.975%,. the greatest because 2013, though the wide gap to U.S. yields left. the yen little bit changed at 155.67 per dollar.

The dollar logged its largest weekly drop on the euro in. two-and-a-half months recently, however was steady on Monday at. $ 1.08735.

Brent unrefined futures increased to a one-week high of. $ 84.25 a barrel however were last down 0.2% after a helicopter crash. eliminated Iran's president and Saudi Arabian state news flagged a. health concern for the king, threatening fresh instability in the. Middle East.

If Middle East conflict picks up, we might see inflationary. pressures due to a potential rise in oil prices, said Tareck. Horchani, head of dealing, prime brokerage at Maybank Securities. in Singapore.

Unrest in French territory New Caledonia increased costs for. its major export, nickel, and silver, which was going after. gold greater, broke above $30.

(source: Reuters)