London — World stocks hit a new record high on Monday, boosted by strong global technology stocks, while European trading was lifted by a recovery in Spanish markets after a poll eased investors’ concerns over Catalan secession. MSCI’s world equity index, which tracks shares in 47 countries, rose 0.2% to its highest-ever level. The index has surged 17.7% so far in 2017, and is on track for its best annual showing since 2013. Eurozone stocks climbed 0.2%, holding near their highest level in 10 years. European stocks have surged this year as a healthy economy dovetailed with convincing growth in corporate earnings and a reduction in political risk. "There is an avalanche of things that are happening or going to happen, but markets are just shrugging it off. It’s like markets have been vaccinated against bad news thanks to the strength of the global business cycle," said Marie Owens Thomsen, global head of economic research at Indosuez Wealth Management in Geneva. Spanish stocks jumped...
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