Stocks sputter as Nvidia's growth slows, bitcoin hits new high

Nov 21 (Reuters) - Global stocks eased on Thursday after AI bellwether Nvidia's revenue growth forecast failed to excite investors, while the dollar firmed and bitcoin hit a record high, buoyed by hopes about U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's policies.

Geopolitical concerns following an escalation in the Ukraine-Russia conflict earlier this week dented risk sentiment, lifting safe-haven gold and boosting oil prices.

The spotlight though was on earnings from Nvidia (NVDA.O), opens new tab, the world's most valuable firm, which projected its slowest revenue growth in seven quarters. Futures tracking the tech-adjacent Nasdaq slipped 0.6%, the pan European STOXX 600 (.STOXX), opens new tab dropped 0.3%.

MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe (.MIWD00000PUS), opens new tab eased 0.1%, after being range-bound for most of the week.

"While we don't doubt there will be strong demand for Nvidia's products, that does not mean growth rates will be sustained and that is what investors care about," said Michael O'Rourke, chief market strategist at JonesTrading.

"No company experiences this type of growth in perpetuity."

Indeed, Nvidia's fourth-quarter forecast indicated the company's revenue growth will slow to roughly 69.5% from 94% in the third-quarter. Demand for the company's AI chips, which dominate the market, remained strong.

Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo, said Nvidia earnings were a clear indication that momentum in AI was only growing, with supplies being the bigger headwind rather than demand.

"The structural AI tailwind could continue to be a key driver for equities into the next year."

Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in China (.SSEC), opens new tab and Hong Kong were mixed, while tech heavy Taiwan stocks (.TWII), opens new tab dropped 0.6%.

Attention was also on Indian conglomerate Adani Group after U.S. prosecutors said Gautam Adani, billionaire chair of the group, has been indicted in New York over his role in an alleged multibillion-dollar bribery and fraud scheme.

The news cut $30 billion in market value from Adani Group companies and dragged India's benchmark equity indexes lower.

SOARING DOLLAR

The dollar has been rising since the U.S. election on anticipation that proposed tariffs of the Trump administration will likely be inflationary and keep rates higher for longer.

The dollar index , which measures the U.S. currency against six rivals, was at 106.62, not far from the one-year high of 107.07 it touched last week. The index has risen more than 2% since the Nov. 5 election.

The prospect of the Federal Reserve slowing its rate cut cycle has also boosted the dollar. Markets were pricing in the Fed lowering borrowing costs by 25 basis points next month at 55.7%, down from 72.2% just a week ago, according to CME's FedWatch Tool.

Two Federal Reserve governors on Wednesday laid out competing visions of where U.S. monetary policy may be heading, with one citing concerns about inflation and another expressing confidence that price pressures will continue to ease.

"Markets are waiting for some direction. Equity markets look a bit toppish here. The next data points will hopefully give some direction," said Peter Schaffrik, global macro strategist at RBC Capital Markets.

Attention will also be on business surveys in the euro zone on Friday that could offer clues on the European Central Bank's policy path as the bloc's currency threatens to break below 1.05 level against the dollar, Schaffrik said.

The common currency briefly breached that level on Friday and has moved sideways since. It was last at $1.053175.

The rise in the dollar has led the Japanese yen back into intervention territory, leading to verbal warnings from officials. On Thursday, the Japanese currency strengthened to 154.54 per dollar after falling as much as 155.86 in the previous session.

Bitcoin has been on a tear since the election as the Trump administration is expected to relax regulations and be crypto friendly.

The world's largest cryptocurrency, bitcoin, soared to touch a record of $97,902 and was just a touch under at $97,611.

In commodities, oil prices rose on supply concerns triggered by the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

Brent crude futures firmed about 1% to $73.61, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures gained 1.3% at $69.63.

Gold prices were on the rise for a fourth straight session on safe asset demands. Spot gold rose 0.6% at $2,665 per ounce.