(Updates prices, changes comment, dateline; previous LONDON)
* U.S. labor market slowing as fiscal stimulus fades
* Oil dips as frail demand outlook offsets U.S. stock fall
* COVID-19 Global Tracker: https://tmsnrt.rs/2FkV6wq
By Rodrigo Campos
NEW YORK, Sept 24 (Reuters) - An index of stocks across the
globe fell on Thursday and the dollar rose for a fifth session
running on lingering concern about another economic hit from the
coronavirus pandemic.
Data showed a surprise increase in the number of Americans
filing new claims for unemployment benefits, reinforcing the
view that the economic recovery is in peril.
Adding to those concerns, the Federal Reserve this week has
talked up the importance of a fiscal stimulus in the United
States. But political focus has shifted toward the Nov. 3
presidential election and a Supreme Court nomination, which make
it harder for Congress to agree on a stimulus package.
"The cloud of uncertainties continues to grow," said Peter
Cardillo, chief market economist at Spartan Capital Securities
in New York.
"The coronavirus is now back on the front pages and the
market is now really fearing the uncertainties of the elections.
As we get closer to the end of the month, the downward trend is
intensifying."
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 70.55 points,
or 0.26%, to 26,692.58, the S&P 500 lost 1.7 points, or
0.05%, to 3,235.22 and the Nasdaq Composite added 23.91
points, or 0.22%, to 10,656.90.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index lost 1.15% and
MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe shed
0.68%.
Emerging market stocks lost 1.91%. MSCI's broadest index of
Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan closed 2.19%
lower, while Japan's Nikkei lost 1.11%.
Flows into the dollar helped it rise for a fifth
straight day against a basket of peers as investors seek safety.
"Optimism on the recovery, optimism on the virus, and bets
on stimulus were keeping markets well bid, and on all three of
these issues there has been a degree of disappointment this
month," said John Velis, an FX and macro strategist at BNY
Mellon.
The dollar index rose 0.179%, with the euro
down 0.13% at $1.1644.
The Japanese yen weakened 0.08% versus the greenback at
105.47 per dollar, while Sterling was last trading at
$1.2716, down 0.05% on the day.
Oil prices ticked lower, tracking post-settle trading the
previous session, as the bullish impact of a fall in U.S.
inventories was offset by a stronger dollar and a renewed wave
of coronavirus cases in Europe.
U.S. crude recently fell 0.25% to $39.83 per barrel
and Brent was at $41.57, down 0.48% on the day.
U.S. Treasury yields fell on Thursday as labor market data
indicated the economic recovery may be stalling, but moved off
lows after a stronger-than-expected report on the housing
sector.
Benchmark 10-year notes last rose 4/32 in price
to yield 0.6642%, from 0.676% late on Wednesday.
In emerging markets, Turkey surprised traders with a hike in
its policy rate by 200 basis points to 10.25%, sending the lira
and bonds higher.
(Reporting by Rodrigo Campos; additional reporting by Sagarika
Jaisinghani and Devik Jain in Bengaluru, Ahmad Ghaddar in London
and Sinéad Carew and Chuck Mikolajczak in New York; editing by
Jonathan Oatis)