Risky assets fall as money for Greece postponed

LONDON/NEW YORK: Global stocks dipped and crude oil fell on Monday after euro zone finance ministers delayed a decision on extending emergency loans to Greece, though the euro trimmed losses against the dollar on comments the size of a European bailout fund would grow.

Yields on safer US Treasuries and German Bunds slipped and gold prices held steady above $1,530 an ounce as investors sold assets perceived as risky and sought safety in government bonds.

Euro zone finance ministers meeting in Luxembourg said Greece had to show progress on plans to cut spending, raise taxes and generate new revenue streams before a final decision is made on a further 12 billion euros ($17 billion) in loans.

"The market is hungry for an actual agreement to be signed, sealed and dusted," said Credit Agricole analyst Robin Bhar. "Markets are just starting the week slightly risk averse, having had a good bounce on Friday."

Wall Street hovered near break-even after US markets opened, and the euro's losses eased after the chief of the European Financial Stability Facility said the fund's guarantees will be raised to 780 billion euros from 440 billion.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 1.63 points, or 0.01 percent, to 12,005.99. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index dropped 0.77 points, or 0.06 percent, to 1,270.73. The Nasdaq Composite Index gained 0.11 points, or 0.00 percent, to 2,616.59.

The euro rose as high as $1.43060 on trading platform EBS and was last at $1.42950, up 0.2 percent on the day.

World stocks measured by the MSCI All-Country World Index fell 0.3 percent after a three-week decline.

Crude oil prices extended last week's losses, with risk aversion rising after the delay in emergency loans to Greece.

Brent crude fell by 82 cents a barrel to $112.39 a barrel, while US oil lost 30 cents a barrel to $92.71 a barrel.

Benchmark 10-year notes rose 6/32 in price to yield 2.92 percent, down from 2.94 percent late on Friday.

"The finance ministers have set a time frame now. The question is will there be any great surprise," said Tom Tucci, head of government bond trading at RBC Capital Markets in New York.

Adding to concerns, Moody's late Friday threatened to cut Italy's credit ratings in the next 90 days on worries that the Greece crisis may drive interest rates higher and derail Italy's economic recovery.

Gold reversed gains, but the precious metal remained supported by euro zone debt woes after the delay on emergency loans to Greece.

Banks led European shares lower after euro zone finance ministers delayed a decision on extending emergency loans to Greece and ratings agency Moody's threatened to cut Italy's credit rating.

Investor appetite for riskier stocks fell, with the Euro STOXX 50 volatility index, one of Europe's main gauges of investor anxiety, rising 11 percent to its highest level in three months. The gauge later pared gains to trade up 6.7 percent.

Copyright Reuters, 2011