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| - Most stock markets advanced Wednesday and bitcoin soared above $20,000 for the first time, as prospects increased for more US economic stimulus and a Brexit trade deal. Potential for an earlier EU rollout of coronavirus vaccines boosted investor's mood further. The dollar faltered however, as a surge in virus cases and further restrictive measures continued to drive a tug-of-war between long-term optimism and near-term pain. The Dow Jones index was in negative territory in midday trading, after data showed that US retail sales fell sharply in November, a sign of economic trouble as Covid-19 cases climb. Bitcoin, the leading virtual currency, traded at a record high of $20,867 to trace an astounding leap in one year as financial markets maintain their appetite for riskier assets. Just 12 years old, bitcoin has pursued a meteoric rise since March, when it stood at $5,000, spurred by online payments giant PayPal saying it would enable account holders to use cryptocurrency. "After being in a wasteland since the infamous bull run of late 2017, crypto, and bitcoin in particular, are back," remarked Ayush Ansal, head of the hedge fund, Crimson Black Capital. Meanwhile in London, the pound built on recent gains as British and European negotiators press on with talks on a post-Brexit trade deal. Traders awaited the conclusion Wednesday of the Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting, hoping for some guidance on its plans for monetary policy in 2021. "Sentiment is supported by many factors today, ranging from deal hopes for Brexit and US fiscal stimulus package, to stronger-than-expected economic data and the potential return of normalcy in 2021," commented Fawad Razaqzada, a market analyst at ThinkMarkets. After months of stuttering talks between lawmakers in Washington, signs of progress were seen on a new rescue package for the world's top economy. Hopes that the EU economy can get back on track next year also got a lift when the European Medicines Agency said it had brought forward a meeting to decide on authorising the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine by more than a week to December 21. The vaccine is already being administered in Britain, the US and Canada. That news came as the US Food and Drug Administration recommended experts give the go-ahead later this week to a second vaccine, produced by Moderna. The need for a big rollout of the vaccine has been laid bare by soaring infection and death rates around the world, which have led governments to impose strict containment measures leading into the Christmas holidays. London - FTSE 100: UP 0.9 percent at 6,570.91 points (close) Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 1.5 percent at 13,565.98 (close) Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.3 percent at 5,547.68 (close) EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.6 percent at 3,543.00 New York - Dow: DOWN 0.1 percent at 30,158.35 Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.3 percent at 26,757.40 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 1.0 percent at 26,460.29 (close) Shanghai - Composite: FLAT at 3,366.98 (close) Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3499 from $1.3457 at 2150 GMT Euro/pound: DOWN at 90.21 pence from 90.36 pence Euro/dollar: UP at $1.2178 from $1.2159 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 103.58 yen from 103.61 yen West Texas Intermediate: UP by 0.1 percent at $47.75 per barrel Brent North Sea crude: UP by 0.3 percent at $50.97 per barrel dan-bcp/wai/pvh
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