World stocks hit record after US Fed minutes

Women stand in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei 225 index at a securities firm in Tokyo.

World stocks hit record highs on Thursday and the dollar dipped after the US Federal Reserve signalled caution in raising interest rates.

European shares opened higher, but quickly dipped into negative territory. The pan-European STOXX 600 index was last down 0.3 per cent, led lower by resources companies after a four per cent drop in iron ore on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange.

Earlier, Asian stocks, as measured by MSCI, gained almost one per cent to a two-year high after the US S&P 500 index hit a closing record on Wednesday. This helped push MSCI's 46-country world stock index to a record high of 464.38 per cent, up 0.3 per cent on the day.

E-mini index futures indicated Wall Street would open higher while the VIX "fear gauge" of expected volatility in the S&P 500 opened at 9.82, its lowest since May 10.

The main factor in markets overnight was the minutes of the Fed's May 2 to 3 meeting. They showed policymakers agreed they should hold off on raising rates until it was clear a recent slowdown in the US economy was temporary, though most said a hike was coming soon.

Fed staff proposed a plan to wind down the more than $4 trillion of debt securities amassed as part of efforts to stimulate the economy. In a move some investors cited as reassuring, the plan included a limit on how much would be allowed to fall off the balance sheet each month.

Federal funds futures imply traders see an 83 per cent chance of a rate rise in June and a 46 per cent probability of two increases by the end of 2017, according to the CME Group's FedWatch tool.

US Treasury yields dipped after the minutes, weakening the dollar. The benchmark 10-year yield was down 1 basis point on Thursday at 2.26 per cent.

Eurozone borrowing costs also fell after what was seen as a sign central banks would be wary of stepping back too quickly from ultra-loose policies that have supported their economies.

Despite signs of economic recovery, many in markets worry that a precipitate withdrawal of stimulus could cause turbulence.

"The Bank of Japan and the ECB are the ones with the long-standing structural weaknesses and there are bigger fears about the risk of a taper tantrum," said Chris Scicluna, head of economic research at Daiwa Capital Markets. - Reuters