* Oil prices leap nearly 4% after tanker attacks in Gulf of Oman
* Shares claw higher, dollar steady while yield curve steepens
* Asian stock markets: https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
By Sinéad Carew
NEW YORK, June 13 (Reuters) - Oil futures jumped on Thursday after suspected attacks on two tankers off the coast of Iran, while U.S. Treasury yields edged lower as economic data seemed to strengthen the case for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates this year.
Wall Street's major stock indexes climbed after falling for two days as investors regained their appetite for risk assets.
The number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week, potentially adding to concerns about the U.S. labor market after May job growth slowed.
And other data showed import prices fell by the most in five months in May in the latest indication of muted inflation pressures, potentially strengthening the case for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates this year. Randy Frederick, vice president of trading and derivatives for Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW) in Austin, Texas was not convinced the data changed anything.
"I don't see a whole lot of real positive catalysts other than a small bounce because we got a couple of weak days," said Frederick. "Generally, when you get a bounce that doesn't seem to have a catalyst, often it doesn't last. I'm finding it hard to imagine what optimism might be out there right now."
The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 52.6 points, or 0.2%, to 26,057.43, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 7.71 points, or 0.27%, to 2,887.55 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 34.99 points, or 0.45%, to 7,827.71.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index .STOXX rose 0.14% and MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe .MIWD00000PUS shed 0.01%.
After falling hard on Wednesday, oil futures rebounded sharply after news of a suspected attack on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman near Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global oil consumption passes. you have an incident in the Arabian Gulf, a little bit of nervousness always starts to kick in about that particular artery getting clogged up," CMC Markets senior analyst Michael Hewson said.
U.S. crude CLcv1 rose 2.97% to $52.66 per barrel, recouping much of the previous day's 4% drop. Brent LCOcv1 was up 2.7% at $61.57.
YIELD CURVE STEEPENS
In U.S. Treasuries, the yield curve steepened after the import prices spurred bets for a Fed rate cut this year, days ahead the U.S. central bank's scheduled meeting. 10-year notes US10YT=RR last rose 8/32 in price to yield 2.1014%, from 2.127% late on Wednesday.
In currencies, the U.S. dollar was little changed against the euro as investors were reluctant to take large positions before next week's Federal Reserve meeting and the G20 summit in Japan later this month. think in order to see the dollar weaken further, you need to see some follow through from the Fed on rate easing,” said Mazen Issa, senior FX strategist at TD Securities in New York.
The dollar index .DXY , tracking it against six major currencies, rose 0.04%, with the euro EUR= down 0.12% to $1.1274.
The Japanese yen strengthened 0.08% versus the greenback to 108.44 per dollar, while sterling GBP= was last trading at $1.2683, down 0.02% on the day.
The pound was subdued after British lawmakers defeated an attempt led by the opposition Labour Party to try to block a no-deal Brexit by seizing control of the parliamentary agenda from the government. prices edged up to the week's high on Thursday, on expectations for a U.S. rate cut after soft inflation data, although the uptick in equities capped gains. gold XAU= added 0.5% to $1,339.56 an ounce.
<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Fed Funds rate projections
https://tmsnrt.rs/2XgZ7Jj Position of evacuated tankers in Gulf of Oman
https://tmsnrt.rs/2X6nIQF
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>