Stocks grind higher, markets mull US shutdown impact

Global stocks gained and gold traded near record highs on Thursday as investors digested the potential ramifications of a US government shutdown, while a weak private U.S. labour market report bolstered bets for Federal Reserve rate cuts.

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A protracted U.S. government shutdown could mean that the release of key official data on employment and inflation is delayed or disrupted, clouding the picture on the health of the world’s biggest economy and the path for interest rates.

A monthly payrolls report seems unlikely now to be released on Friday, putting an overnight ADP employment report that shows the economy unexpectedly shed jobs in September into sharper focus. Traders are now pricing in two quarter-point Fed rate cuts by the end of the year as almost a done deal.

"I hope they sort this out rapidly," said Kevin Thozet, investment committee member at asset manager Carmignac, referring to the government shutdown, adding that inflation data was also due ahead of the Fed's next meeting.

"It’s like a blind man walking with a blind dog," he said.

While US stocks have performed well, he added, uncertainty about the credibility of U.S. institutions more generally has manifested in a weaker dollar.

The MSCI's broadest index of global stocks was up about 0.38 on Thursday, after European stocks hit another record high, up about 0.78.

Wall Street futures were also up between 0.2 and 0.48.