Dollar recovers, world stocks gain as N.Korea missile fears recede

The dollar came off a 2-1/2 year low and world stocks rose on Wednesday after the United States' measured response to North Korea's missile test soothed jittery investors who turned their focus to positive economic data.

European stocks rose higher, tracking counterparts in Asia and the United States and reversing losses from the day before when investors were spooked by Pyongyang's firing of a ballistic missile over Japan.

Fears that this could trigger an aggressive response receded on Wednesday after the United Nations - in a statement drafted by the United States - condemned North Korea's latest missile launch but held back any threat of new sanctions.

Trump, who has vowed not to let North Korea develop nuclear missiles that can hit the mainland United States, said the world had received North Korea's latest message “loud and clear".

“Instead of the (US) President responding to the escalation via Twitter, as has happened on many recent occasions, the White House issued an official statement to condemn the action,” said IronFX analyst Charalambos Pissouros.

“This may have been interpreted by investors as a sign that the US will approach the situation in a more measured and diplomatic manner, as opposed to raining down 'fire and fury'," he said.

'Fire and fury' threat

He was referring to US President Donald Trump's remarks earlier this month that he said he would respond with “fire and fury” if North Korea persisted in threatening his country.

North Korean media reports on the launch also lacked their usual claims of technical advances, indicating the test may not have succeeded as planned.

The dollar recovered from a four-month low, rising 0.2 per cent against the Japanese yen and against a basket of currencies.

The recovery in the greenback had begun during Tuesday's US trading session, with data showing US consumer confidence hitting a five-month high and house prices rising again.

“A series of strong economic data reminded traders and investors that the (Federal Reserve) is on course to shrinking its balance sheet and lifting rates again,” said Markus Allenspach, an analyst at Julius Baer.

The yield on US 10-year Treasuries was back up to 2.13 per cent, having sunk below 2.10 per cent on Tuesday for the first time since the day after the 2016 presidential election.

In Europe, the pan-European STOXX 600 gained 0.6 per cent, recovering nearly all the ground lost in the previous session and banking stocks - which had led the risk-averse move lower on Tuesday - were up nearly 1 per cent.

This followed gains in Asia: MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan advanced 0.6 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei rose 0.7 per cent.

Euro zone government bond yields, which fell to fresh lows on Tuesday, edged up on Wednesday as forecast-beating inflation in Spain was expected to be followed by similar data in Germany, defying the euro's recent strength.

In commodities, gasoline hit a two-year high after Hurricane Harvey shut down nearly a fifth of US refining capacity, and more closures are expected.

US gasoline futures rose 3.1 per cent to $1.8392, bringing gains this week to over 10 per cent. The rise in crude inventories as a result of refinery shutdowns, however, weighed on oil prices.

US crude futures fell 0.6 per cent to $46.17 a barrel, after touching a five-week low on Tuesday. Global benchmark Brent slipped 0.6 per cent to $51.67.

Spot gold edged marginally lower to $1,309.39 an ounce on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the precious metal jumped to its highest since Trump was elected US president.

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