* Global stocks fall as dollar rallies strongly
* Year-end trading reduces risk-taking
* Greece concern drags euro lower (Updates with U.S. markets close)
By Al Yoon
NEW YORK, Dec 17 (Reuters) - The dollar jumped to its highest in more than three months against major currencies on Thursday as a U.S. economic report supported a slightly more optimistic outlook delivered by the Federal Reserve.
World stocks fell nearly 2 percent, with bank shares hurt after the U.S. Federal Reserve said on Wednesday that some special programs to support the financial system were no longer needed and would expire by early next year. For more, see: [ID:nN16114058]
The euro fell to the lowest in more than three months, also hurt by Standard & Poor's downgrade of Greece's rating by one notch, to BBB-plus from A-minus, late on Wednesday.
While the Fed left rates unchanged, prospects that it will spark tighter U.S. monetary policy earlier than expected triggered an unwinding of short dollar positions ahead of the new year. Investors also pared riskier equity positions to protect profits after a more than 70 percent rally for global equities since March.
The Fed gave no indication it would soon raise its target interest rate from near zero. In addition, a Senate panel's vote to advance the nomination of Ben Bernanke to a second term as the U.S. central bank chief was cheered by bond investors concerned about interruption in his low rate policy. [nN17220012].
But debate is intensifying for a move to curb the inflationary pressure of easy U.S. monetary policy and close the gap with European rates -- a measure that would boost the value of dollar-based assets.
"The markets have had a big recovery from their lows, and right now traders are looking to more or less nail down some profits," said Steve Goldman, market strategist at Weeden & Co in Greenwich, Connecticut. He added that the stronger dollar is removing what had been a key driver of U.S. equity gains.
GREECE WORRIES
Standard & Poor's said austerity steps announced by Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou were unlikely to produce a "sustainable" reduction in the public debt burden, raising worries about the finances of the euro zone member.
"The problem for the euro is the mix of the (Fed) statement and the very strong concerns over Greece ... All the euro crosses have suffered," said Roberto Mialich, FX strategist at Unicredit in Milan.
In the United States, a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia showed an index of business activity in its region was at the highest since April 2005, underscoring the stronger outlook for U.S. growth. But initial jobless claims rose in the latest week, adding to expectations that the recovery would be modest.
World stocks fell, with MSCI's all-country index down 1.77 percent <.MIWD00000PUS> and its emerging market component off 1.93 percent <.MSCIEF>.
On Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> dropped 132.86 points, or 1.27 percent, to 10,308.26. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> edged down 13.10 points, or 1.18 percent, to 1,096.08, and the Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> slipped 26.86 points, or 1.22 percent, to 2,180.05.
In Europe, the FTSEurofirst 300 <.FTEU3> index declined
1.25 percent, having hit a one-month closing high on Wednesday.
Bank stocks, including BNP Paribas
The dollar gained against a basket of major trading-partner
currencies, with the U.S. Dollar Index <.DXY> up 0.98 percent
at 77.753. The euro
Equities have had a robust year, especially since March, but are becoming more volatile ahead of year-end, with questions pending about 2010. The closure of key programs by the U.S. central bank has raised questions on whether the economy is strong enough to stand on its own feet.
"Markets are still trying to find a trend and establish whether the improvement in the economy is due to stimulus packages," said Justin Urquhart Stewart, investment director at Seven Investment Management.
Japan's Nikkei average <.N225> ended down 0.1 percent, slipping from seven-week highs as investors pocketed profits on a rally in big banks such as Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group <8306.T>.
U.S. and German government bonds rallied as the downgrade of Greece's rating revived a bid for low-risk government debt. U.S. Treasuries also rose as a Senate panel backed Fed Chairman Bernanke's nomination for a new term.
Benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury note
In energy and commodities trading, U.S. light sweet crude
oil
(Additional reporting by Jeremy Gaunt, Brian Gorman, Jessica Mortimer and Rodrigo Campos; Editing by Dan Grebler) (To read Reuters Global Investing Blog click on http://blogs.reuters.com/globalinvesting; for the MacroScope Blog click on http://blogs.reuters.com/macroscope; for Hedge Hub click on http://blogs.reuters.com/hedgehub)