(Updates after U.S. market close)
* Trade-weighted sterling since Brexit vote http://tmsnrt.rs/2hwV9Hv
* Dollar index hits two-month high
By Rodrigo Campos
NEW YORK, July 29 (Reuters) - The British pound touched its lowest level in over two years against the dollar after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said a hard divorce from the EU was in the cards, while stocks dipped globally with Wall Street backing off record highs.
The dollar index edged up and touched its highest since late May as markets counted down to a likely cut in U.S. interest rates this week, with much riding on whether the Federal Reserve signals more cuts will follow.
Sterling fell to a 28-month low of $1.2213 GBP= as Johnson's cabinet prepared the ground for a "no-deal" British exit from the European Union on Oct. 31, which many investors say would tip Britain into a recession and inject unwanted uncertainty into financial markets. GBP/ pound GBP= was last trading at $1.2223, down 1.27% on the day.
"There is a realization the market had not fully priced the increased chances of a no-deal Brexit," said Claire Dissaux, head of global economics and strategy at Millenium Global Investments.
The dollar index .DXY rose 0.03%, with the euro EUR= up 0.17% to $1.1144.
The Japanese yen weakened 0.09% versus the greenback at 108.79 per dollar.
A stronger-than-expected U.S. gross domestic product report on Friday lead some investors to doubt whether the Fed will continue easing this year after its Wednesday meeting.
Interest rate futures are fully priced for a quarter-point rate cut from the Fed on Wednesday, with a 1-in-4 chance of a half-point move.
On Wall Street, Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) weighed down the S&P 500 while Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) rose a day ahead of earnings. Absent company news, the Fed remained as the main market catalyst.
"Apple's results will be a good read into trade and the situation with China and if Apple has a good number it would be a stabilizing force for the technology sector," said Craig Hodges, portfolio manager with Hodges Funds in Dallas, Texas.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 28.9 points, or 0.11%, to 27,221.35, the S&P 500 .SPX lost 4.89 points, or 0.16%, to 3,020.97 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC dropped 36.88 points, or 0.44%, to 8,293.33.
MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe .MIWD00000PUS shed 0.16% and emerging market stocks lost 0.28%. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS closed 0.54% lower, while Japan's Nikkei .N225 lost 0.19%.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index .STOXX earlier rose 0.03%.
Investors were also keeping an eye on U.S.-China trade talks. U.S. and Chinese negotiators meet in Shanghai this week for their first in-person talks since a G20 truce last month, but expectations for a breakthrough are low. futures meandered throughout the session but ended decidedly in the black as Fed easing expectations more than offset the reaction to "constructive" Iran talks over the weekend. crude CLc1 rose 1.51% to $57.05 per barrel and Brent LCOc1 was last at $63.89, up 0.68% on the day.
"Today's kickoff to some renewed trade negotiations between U.S. and China will likely inspire some modest price support," Jim Ritterbusch of Ritterbusch and Associates said in a note. "However, the mid-week Fed decision and associated commentary could prove to be this week's larger driver of oil pricing."
U.S. Treasury yields were lower across the board with investors focused on the widely expected interest rate cut by the Fed later this week.
"People say the Fed could go 50 basis points, but I think that's not going to happen," said Stan Shipley, fixed income strategist at Evercore ISI in New York. "The question is what they are going to say about future cuts."
Benchmark 10-year notes US10YT=RR last rose 6/32 in price to yield 2.0598%, from 2.081% late on Friday.
The 30-year bond US30YT=RR last rose 10/32 in price to yield 2.5871%, from 2.601% late on Friday.
Spot gold XAU= added 0.6% to $1,426.31 an ounce. U.S. gold futures GCcv1 gained 0.49% to $1,426.20 an ounce.
Copper CMCU3 rose 0.87% to $6,015.00 a tonne.
<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Global assets in 2019
http://tmsnrt.rs/2jvdmXl Global currencies vs. dollar
http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh Emerging markets in 2019
http://tmsnrt.rs/2ihRugV MSCI All Country Wolrd Index Market Cap
http://tmsnrt.rs/2EmTD6j Trade-weighted sterling since Brexit vote
http://tmsnrt.rs/2hwV9Hv
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