World stock markets up near record high; low yields help

[World News]

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By Herbert Lash NEW YORK (Reuters) - Global equity markets edged higher on Monday, boosting a gauge of world stock performance to near an all-time high, as low interest rates bolstered sentiment even as U.S. Treasury yields rose. Europe also advanced as Spain, Italy and Portugal spurred regional indices on bets those markets would benefit most from last week's European Central Bank stimulus measures. Peripheral European bond yields set record lows, with S&P's upgrade of Ireland's credit pushing it to a record low of 2.39 percent. "The support is coming from extremely low bond yields and action in Europe, so it gives investors no real alternative, no real reason to sell stocks," said Rick Meckler, president of LibertyView Capital Management in Jersey City, New Jersey, who also cited merger and acquisition deals.

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