* U.S. retail sales data boosts global stocks
* Euro drops from three-week high
* Investors speculate on Fed meeting outcome (Updates with U.S. market open)
By Al Yoon and Alina Selyukh
NEW YORK, Dec 14 (Reuters) - World stocks rose, nearing a two-year high set in November, and the dollar rebounded after stronger-than-expected U.S. consumer spending boosted optimism of a lasting global economic recovery.
U.S. benchmark Treasury yields jumped to their highest levels in more than six months after U.S. retail sales rose for a fifth straight month.
The U.S. producer price index also increased more than anticipated, further evidence to suggest economic growth was accelerating. For details, see [ID:nN14261708]
European shares pared losses after the U.S. data, which affirmed a stocks rally that has pushed up the S&P 500 index by 6 percent since Nov. 29. Investors also expected the U.S. compromise U.S. plan that includes an extension of tax cuts and jobless benefits and a payroll tax credit, to boost the economy.
"The hand-off to 2011 looks very promising," Tom Porcelli, chief U.S. economist at RBC Capital Markets, said. "Very solid ... there is no other way to describe the retails sales report."
The rise in retail sales showed that consumers are ramping up spending in the thick of the critical holiday shopping season, said Jim Baird, partner and chief investment strategist at Michigan-based Plante Moran Financial Advisors.
Investors also awaited a meeting of the U.S. Federal Reserve, with policymakers expected to assess the central bank's $600 billion bond-buying program but not signal any shift in its monetary easing program.
The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> rose 54.57 points, or 0.48 percent, to 11,483.13. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> climbed 4.19 points, or 0.34 percent, to 1,244.65 and the Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> gained 10.66 points, or 0.41 percent, to 2,635.57.
Consumer electronics retailer Best Buy Inc
The MSCI world equity index <.MIWD00000PUS> and the Thomson Reuters global stock index <.TRXFLDGLPU> both rose about a one-third of a percent. The MSCI index is just below a two-year high set in November.
China's extension of special reserve requirements for top banks also supported world stocks and commodities as expectations rose that Beijing was unlikely to aggressively cool down its economy, with the rest of the world relying on China's robust growth. [ID:nLDE6BC0ET]
Chinese stocks rose 0.1 percent <.SSEC>. A leading official newspaper reported China will probably target a limit of about 7.5 trillion yuan ($1.1 trillion) in new loans next year, an indication that policy could be slightly looser than expected.
In Europe, the FTSEurofirst 300 index <.FTEU3> rose 0.2 percent near its close of trading. Emerging stocks <.MSCIEF> added 0.6 percent.
Treasuries dropped, adding to a sharp selloff since the tax deal between U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican lawmakers sparked concerns over a widening federal budget gap and the inflationary impact of faster growth.
"A more robust U.S. growth outlook has taken over the mantle of market leadership," Goldman Sachs wrote to clients.
U.S. Treasury 10-year note yields, which influence consumer and corporate borrowing costs, rose 0.08 percentage point to 3.36 percent.
The euro gave up gains against the dollar as U.S. bond yields edged higher and investors squared positions ahead of the Fed's final meeting for 2010. The euro earlier hit a three-week high against the dollar.
The dollar gained 0.21 percent against a basket of major
trading-partner currencies. The euro
In commodities, U.S. light sweet crude oil