* Wall Street gains on economic optimism, weak dollar
* Dollar mostly lower ahead of U.S. bank earnings
* Oil jumps 2 percent on optimism, colder U.S. weather
* Bunds lifted by UK gilt rally, curve steepens
(Updates with U.S. markets activity; changes dateline;
previous LONDON)
By Herbert Lash
NEW YORK, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Oil and other commodity prices
rose on Monday on a weak U.S. dollar and renewed optimism over
the pace of economic recovery, while global equities gained,
spurred higher by the stock of energy and materials companies.
Oil jumped more than 2 percent to touch a six-week high,
aluminium rose to a near one-month high and copper gained,
supported by a looming strike in Chile. For details, see:
[] []
Gold prices sought higher ground, keeping last week's
record high in sight, as a weak dollar and the surge in oil
prices attracted investors looking for a hedge against possibly
higher inflation down the road. []
The dollar was mostly lower as investors positioned for
earnings from some of the biggest U.S. banks later this week on
expectations that results will top forecasts and drive risk
tolerance higher. []
JPMorgan Chase & Co <JPM.N> and Goldman Sachs Group Inc
<GS.N> are slated to release results this week. []
The MSCI all-country world index <.MIWD00000PUS> hit a new
one-year high, gaining 0.6 percent on rising stock markets in
Europe and the United States. Asia-Pacific shares outside of
Japan fell slightly, with Tokyo markets closed for a holiday.
With the U.S. government closed for the Columbus Day
holiday, trading was light. The U.S. bond market was closed,
and most major markets were also closed in Latin America,
except for Peru and Mexico.
European shares rose on better-than-expected earnings from
Dutch giant Philips Electronics <PHG.AS>, which reinforced
investors' confidence in third-quarter results. []
The world's biggest lighting maker and Europe's biggest
consumer electronics producer benefited from cost-cutting and a
drop in revenue that was less than feared. []
"The results of companies like Philips are important, and
other corporates are also reporting decent profits," said Franz
Wenzel, a strategist at AXA Investment Managers in Paris.
"The other main reasons for the stock market rally are
still in place. The macroeconomics are improving. And,
importantly, we still have ample liquidity."
The FTSEurofirst 300 <> of top European shares rose
0.7 percent to 1,005.37 points, while The FTSE 100 index
<> in London set a fresh one-year high.
U.S. stocks advanced in a sign of renewed interest in
initial public offerings. Blackstone Group <BX.N> rose 7.9
percent on a report the private equity firm is planning to list
up to eight of its portfolio companies, a possible sign of
healthier capital markets. []
Shortly after 1 p.m., the Dow Jones industrial average
<> was up 44.89 points, or 0.46 percent, at 9,909.83. The
Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 7.09 points, or 0.66
percent, at 1,078.58. The Nasdaq Composite Index <> was up
8.08 points, or 0.38 percent, at 2,147.36.
Euro zone government bonds rebounded in a rally spurred by
their British counterparts on comments by ratings agency
Moody's and a report that interest rates in Britain may stay at
a record low until 2011. []
Bunds underperformed gilts, with the 10-year bond yield
spread narrowing to its tightest in four months, after Prime
Minister Gordon Brown gave his backing to the Bank of England's
program of pumping money into the economy.
The dollar was down against a basket of major currencies,
with the U.S. Dollar Index <.DXY> down 0.41 percent at 76.121.
The euro <EUR=> was up 0.42 percent at $1.4789, and against
the yen, the dollar <JPY=> was up 0.02 percent.
The pound wallowed against both the euro and dollar after a
report said British interest rates would stay at rock-bottom
levels for some time.
Energy prices rose after colder temperatures were forecast
for later in the week for much of the United States, including
the key U.S. Northeast heating oil region. []
U.S. light sweet crude oil <CLc1> rose $1.52 to $73.29 a
barrel.
Spot gold prices <XAU=> rose $8.20 to $1056.40.
The MSCI index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan
<.MIAPJ0000PUS> dipped 0.3 percent. Markets were closed in
Japan for a holiday.
(Reporting by Angela Moon, Nick Olivari and Matthew Robinson
in New York, Emelia Sithole and Brian Gorman in London; writing
by Herbert Lash; Editing by Diane Craft)
