By David Randall
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Global equity markets inched higher and safe haven assets including the dollar gained Wednesday as rising COVID-19 cases and a chaotic U.S. presidential debate weighed on investor sentiment on the last day of a turbulent quarter.
President Donald Trump and Democratic rival Joe Biden battled over Trump's record on the coronavirus pandemic, healthcare and the economy in a bad-tempered first debate Tuesday evening marked by personal insults and Trump's repeated interruptions.
U.S. stock futures had nudged higher early during the debate but then retreated as Trump cast doubt on whether he would accept the election's outcome if he lost.
"The only point worth mentioning is that the debate may have increased expectations for a contested election result," said UBS chief economist Paul Donovan. "Given the importance of international investors to U.S. markets, this may add volatility around the election."
MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe (MIWD00000PUS) rose 0.26% following modest gains in Europe and mixed trading in Asia.
In morning trading on Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) rose 215.43 points, or 0.78%, to 27,668.09, the S&P 500 (SPX) gained 18.35 points, or 0.55%, to 3,353.82 and the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) added 37.94 points, or 0.34%, to 11,123.19.
Markets globally, most of which are headed for their first monthly retreats since March's coronavirus-triggered meltdown, either deepened losses or pulled back from highs scaled after data showed China's economic recovery remains on track.
MSCI's broadest index of world shares, which tracks nearly 50 countries (MIWD00000PUS), is on path for a 4% September loss. Overall, it is on track to close out the quarter with a 7% gain.
(Graphic: World's main stock indexes in 2020 https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/gjnpwjlogvw/Pasted%20image%201601242322314.png)
Oil (LCOc1) is down just over 10% this month, while gold's 4.1%
The U.S. dollar (=USD) crept higher and is set for its best monthly gain since July 2019, while the yen rose 0.2% to 105.50 per dollar, its strongest daily rise in nearly two weeks.
As the U.S. election draws closer, investors are increasingly expecting a bumpy final lap and are bracing for the possibility that the result will be unclear on polling day.
Options trade points to a volatile November. Two-month dollar/yen volatility
Biden said in the closing stages of the debate he would accept defeat if he lost at the ballot box and would not claim victory prematurely.
Trump, who has refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the election, repeated unfounded allegations that mail-in voting would lead to fraud.
"I don't think we were expecting anything else from Trump," said Chris Weston, head of research at Melbourne brokerage Pepperstone. "He continues to put that contested (result) risk premium back into the market."
Benchmark 10-year notes (US10YT=RR) last fell 5/32 in price to yield 0.6594%, from 0.645% late on Tuesday.
Elsewhere, oil prices dropped amid rising concerns about fuel demand as the coronavirus pandemic worsens.
U.S. crude (CLc1) was unchanged at $39.29 per barrel and Brent (LCOc1) was at $40.48, down 1.34% on the day.
(Graphic: Global financial markets in 2020 https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/xlbvgjzggpq/Pasted%20image%201601285806186.png)