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European stocks and dollar liven up as markets sluggish for Thanksgiving

European shares ticked up along with the dollar on Thursday after both fell the previous day, while Asian stocks slipped, as trading volumes thinned ahead of the U.S. Thanksgiving vacation.

Europe's continent-wide Stoxx 600 index increased 0.62% in early trading after slipping 0.75% over the previous 2 sessions.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.52%, however Japan's Nikkei climbed 0.56%.

Trading in U.S. equities and Treasuries was closed, however U.S. stock futures determines ticked greater. Futures for the U.S. S&P 500 were up 0.11% after the index fell 0.38% on Wednesday.

Data on Wednesday revealed U.S. customer spending increased in October but the Federal Reserve's favored step of inflation ticked up to 2.3% in October, from 2.1% the previous month.

Together with the possibility of greater tariffs on imported products, solid spending and inflation could narrow the scope for rates of interest cuts next year.

We continue to expect the FOMC to cut the Funds rate by 25 basis point at its December meeting, said economic expert Kristina Clifton at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, referring to the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee.

However, another strong regular monthly core inflation for November will challenge the FOMC's view that inflation is trending down to 2% each year.

The dollar index, which determines the U.S. currency versus 6 rivals, was 0.22% higher at 106.33 after dropping 0.7% in the previous session.

Chris Turner, global head of markets at lender ING, said Wednesday's fall in the dollar was likely driven in part by financiers moneying in gains on U.S. stocks and bonds in November before the end of the month.

Presumably, a few of this activity happened in the more liquid markets yesterday than waiting for Thanksgiving-thinned conditions.

In a surprise relocation, South Korea's central bank cut benchmark rates of interest for a second consecutive meeting on Thursday after inflation slowed more than policymakers predicted. The won deteriorated after the decision.

The yen was 0.55% lower at 151.91 per dollar after rallying to a one-month high in the previous session. The Asian currency is headed for its greatest week considering that early September on growing expectations of a rate hike from the Bank of Japan next month.

The euro was down 0.29% at $1.0535 after increasing 0.7% in the previous session in the wake of European Central Bank board member Isabel Schnabel saying that rate cuts should be steady and relocate to neutral, not accommodative, territory.

European bond yields fell as costs climbed up , a welcome bit of respite for France's federal government, which saw the nation's borrowing costs increase to their greatest over Germany's since 2012 on Wednesday.

French Finance Minister Antoine Armand said on Thursday the French federal government was all set to make concessions over its budget plan, which has actually dealt with widespread opposition from both far-left and far-right political leaders.

Investors were viewing inflation information for euro zone nations and German states drip in on Thursday before whole-bloc figures on Friday.

In commodities markets, oil prices dipped as worries over Middle East supply interruptions relieved after a ceasefire deal in between Israel and Hezbollah. Brent crude futures were down 0.4% at $72.54 a barrel.

Spot gold was up 0.37% at $2,645 per ounce but on course for a near 4% drop in November, its weakest month-to-month efficiency in over a year.

(source: Reuters)