Markets boosted by FBI-Clinton news on election eve

Global equities rebounded sharply Monday, the eve of the US presidential election, after the FBI handed market favourite Hillary Clinton a major boost by ruling out criminal charges.

Asian and European equities surged higher as traders breathed a sigh of relief as FBI chief James Comey said Democratic nominee Clinton would not face charges over her use of a private email server, dealing a blow to her Republican rival Donald Trump.

In European deals, Frankfurt stocks won 1.5 percent, London added 1.3 percent and Paris jumped 1.7 percent in value.

The Mexican peso -- which has taken on an inverse relationship with Trump's presidential prospects -- staged a stunning rally against the dollar to recoup all its losses from last week.

The currency is considered a reflection of Trump's chances because of his anti-Mexican rhetoric -- including his pledge to remove undocumented migrants, build a border wall and tear up a trade deal.

"European equity markets are... boosted by the news that the FBI has not changed its conclusion on the Hillary Clinton email investigation after announcing a little over a week ago that it had been reopened," said Oanda analyst Craig Erlam.

"The timing of FBI director James Comey's disclosure has once again dealt a serious blow to Donald Trump's chances of securing the White House, something the markets have responded very positively to."

Markets were plunged into turmoil on October 28 when Comey revealed that messages linked to Clinton were being investigated, sending Trump surging in opinion polls just days before the November 8 vote.

However, Comey on Sunday announced he would not change his July recommendation that Clinton not be prosecuted for allegedly putting US secrets at risk.

Investors became more willing Monday to hold assets that are deemed to carry a higher risk -- like equities.

"The dark clouds seem to be dissipating on news that FBI sent a letter to Congress citing that Hillary Clinton had not committed a crime with her private server," said London Capital Group analyst Ipek Ozkardeskaya.

"The FBI news triggered a risk rally across the global financial markets."

Former secretary of state Clinton is considered by many investors to be a safer bet than Trump, who is seen as a loose cannon with policies many fear could wreck the world's top economy.

"The US election is all that matters," Ozkardeskaya added.

"The outcome of the US presidential election is important for the global markets, as the new US president will set the tone for the world’s most powerful economy's external politics and trade relations for the next four years.

"In this context, the Republican Party nominee Donald Trump's victory could be expected to hit the business sentiment across the global markets, hence is defined as a major, world-wide risk from a market perspective heading into Tuesday's election."

- Key figures at 1045 GMT -

London - FTSE 100: UP 1.3 percent at 6,782.60

Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 1.5 percent at 10,413

Paris - CAC 40: UP 1.7 percent at 4,450

EURO STOXX 50: UP 1.5 percent at 2,999.60

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.6 percent at 17,177.21 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 0.70 percent at 22,801.40 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.3 percent at 3,133.33 (close)

New York - Dow: DOWN 0.2 percent at 17,888.28 (close)

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2399 from $1.2519 Friday

Dollar/Mexican peso: DOWN at 18.6800 pesos from 19.0266 pesos

Euro/pound: UP at 89.21 pence from 88.96 pence

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1061 from $1.1137

Dollar/yen: UP at 104.51 yen from 103.04 yen

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: UP 74 cents at $44.81 per barrel

Oil - Brent North Sea: UP 54 cents at $46.12

Source: AFP