TAKE-A-LOOK: World stocks at 6-month high, dollar at 5-month low

Global stocks jumped to a fresh six-month high while the U.S. dollar
slumped to a five-month low on Wednesday as investors stuck to a growing view
that the worst of the global financial crisis had passed.

Oil prices briefly pushed above $62 a barrel to touch fresh six-month highs
on bullish inventory data and a spate of U.S. refinery accidents, in spite of
weak market fundamentals.

MSCI's main world stock index .MIWD00000PUS hit 245.32, a new high for
the year, reaching levels last seen in November.

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MARKET REPORTS:
> GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks at 6-month high, dollar at 5 month low [ID:nN20501651]
> MONEY MARKETS-Dollar rates continue to fall, euro rates up [ID:nLK282886]
> EMERGING MARKETS-Stocks hit new 7 month high [ID:nLK972705]
> COMMODITIES-Oil above $62 on US stockpile drawdown [ID:nSIN233823]
MAIN ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL NEWS DRIVING GLOBAL MARKETS
> US Treasury's Geithner says US making headway against crisis [ID:nN20501612]
> US commercial property activity declines in first quarter [ID:nN20267707]
> US mortgage applications up as interest rates drop [ID:nN20473029]
> California voters reject measures to close budget deficit [ID:nN20317174]
> Canada inflation rate hits 4-year low in April [ID:nN20487391]
> France, Germany sell 13.5 bln euros in bonds [ID:nLK969492]
> German PPI tumbles, Bundesbank sees negative CPI for year [ID:nLK419636]
> World Bank chief says global downturn slowing [ID:nLK499037]
> Russian banks may need extra $16 bln capital [ID:nLK352548]
> Japan Q1 GDP falls record 4 pct in first quarter [ID:nT367411]
> Bank of America raises $13.5 bln in share sale [ID:nN19416813]
ANALYSIS RELATED TO GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS
> European money markets healing but improvement slow [ID:nLI095100]
> US banks are kept guessing on TARP repayment [ID:nN19442071]
> Price worries again threaten world food outlook [ID:nN19448408]
> Investors expect better hedge fund terms [ID:nN19406936]
> Wary of US debt, China shifts gears on investment [ID:nPEK173435]
> US AAA credit rating safe despite ugly fiscal picture [ID:nN18366282]
> GLOBAL ECONOMY-Turning the green shoots into blossoms [ID:nN15278205]
> Derivatives crackdown a boon for exchanges, bane for dealers [ID:nN13429092]
> Wary Congress taking aim at Fed's regional structure [ID:nN12434554]
> US banks issue bonds, but government backing the key [ID:nN08503151]
FACTBOXES
> The Federal Reserve's evolving liquidity toolkit [ID:nN19437787]
> Major US financial regulation reform initiatives [ID:nN14510432]
> Obama administration efforts to tackle financial crisis [ID:nN14509260]
> Federal Reserve purchases of US Treasury debt [ID:nN14488054]
> US regulators propose regulating OTC derivatives [ID:nN13627181]
> Summary of 19 US stress tested banks' capital plans [ID:nN11540406]
> Full text ECB statement on rates, asset buying [ID:nECBTEXT]
> Facts and figures from Obama's budget [ID:nN06299995]
> Details of Chrysler bankruptcy, restructuring plan [ID:nN30323164]
> TEXT-G7 communique-April 24 [ID:nN24515491]
> World government actions to limit bank bad loan damage [ID:nLL193589]
> Where has all the US bailout money gone ? [ID:nN0289041]
> G20 summit final communique [ID:nL2577733]
> US Treasury details toxic asset plan [ID:nLN437165]