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World shares off record highs ahead of inflation tests

World shares stalled simply listed below record highs on Monday as financiers waited for inflation information from the United States and euro zone that could even more improve rates of interest expectations.

The data will offer the next test for investors, who have had to reassess their bets on central bank rate cuts in recent weeks, amazed by strong U.S. job growth and inflation.

MSCI's international equity index was trading flat in early London trade, after increasing to a record high recently when U.S. stocks touched new highs assisted by big gains for AI queen Nvidia.

In European markets, shares slipped with the STOXX 600 index down 0.3% by 0930 GMT, while U.S. stock futures were likewise lower.

The U.S. Federal Reserve's favoured measure of inflation - the core individual consumption expenses (PCE) cost index - is due on Thursday with a survey anticipating a rise of 0.4%,. up from 0.2% in December.

Markets have pressed out the likely timing of a first Fed. reducing to June, from May previously in February. Futures indicate a. bit more than three quarter-point cuts this year, compared to. five at the start of the month.

Euro zone inflation information follows on Friday, with the core. figure seen slowing to the lowest because early 2022 at 2.9%,. nearing the bank's 2% total inflation target.

When the, traders have actually also pushed back their bets on. European Central Bank will begin cutting, to June, versus April. when the ECB met in January.

While possibly causing a knee-jerk hawkish repricing,. the ramifications of such a surprise on the Fed policy outlook. seem reasonably restricted, thus (a higher-than-expected) print. might not present too considerable a risk to the ongoing worldwide equity. rally, said Michael Brown, expert at broker Pepperstone.

Brown included that the euro zone print was of more interest,. with a sub-3% core inflation reading meaning significant scope. for a dovish repricing.

Comments from ECB policymakers triggered optimism over rate. cuts on Friday and a broad bond market rally.

On Monday, worldwide bond yields were little moved. The. benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yields were down 2. basis indicate 4.24%, having actually hit three-month highs last week. before Friday's rally.

The marketplace faces a difficult test with the Treasury offering $127. billion of 2- and five-year notes on Monday, with another $42. billion in seven-year paper due on Tuesday.

If Congress can not agree, financiers were likewise seeing the danger that some U.S. government agencies firms might shut down. on a borrowing extension by Friday.

CENTRAL BANK SPOTLIGHT

Together with inflation, focus is likewise on monetary policymakers,. with ECB President Christine Lagarde and the Bank of England's. primary economist arranged on Monday. A minimum of 10 Fed speakers. are on the agenda this week, and are most likely to repeat their. mantra of remaining mindful on rates.

Elsewhere, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) holds its. Policy meeting of the year on Wednesday. Markets see a. chance it could trek rates provided persistent inflation, though the. nation likely slipped into economic downturn in the fourth quarter.

In currency markets, the U.S. dollar was a touch. lower versus a basket of currencies.

The yen was marginally lower against the dollar. ahead of Japanese inflation data on Tuesday, forecast to slow to. 1.8%. That could contribute to the case against policy tightening by. the Bank of Japan, the holdout dove among industrialized market. central banks.

Japan's Nikkei share average touched a fresh record. high up on Monday.

In commodity markets, gold was a fraction softer at $2,032. an ounce, having actually rallied 1.4% last week.

Oil prices wandered lower, with both Brent and U.S. crude down 0.5% to $81.21 and $76.12 per barrel respectively.

(source: Reuters)