Global Markets News

* CBOE volatility index hits two-week high (Updates to close, adds new comment)

* Dow down 1.54%, S&P 500 down 1.55%, Nasdaq down 1.53% (Updates to mid-afternoon trade, adds new comment, details; changes byline)

* Indexes down: Dow 1.8%, S&P 1.7%, Nasdaq 1.4% (Adds comment, details; Updates prices)

* Indexes down: Dow 0.6%, S&P 0.4%, Nasdaq 0.3% (Updates to market open)

The S&P 500 and the Dow kicked off 2021 at record levels on Monday, building on a rally that has been powered by hopes of a vaccine-driven recovery in the global economy.

* FLIR Systems jumps to near 1-year high on $8 bln takeover deal

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a record opening for the S&P 500 and the Dow in the first trading session of the year on Monday, building on a rally that has been powered by hopes of a vaccine-driven recovery in the global economy.

* Weekly jobless claims fall for second straight week (Updates with volume, market breadth, Tesla performance)

* Weekly jobless claims fall for second straight week (Updates to market close)

* Dow up 0.22%, S&P 500 up 0.18%, Nasdaq down 0.13% (Updates to mid-afternoon changes byline)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was poised to introduce tougher coronavirus restrictions in England at midnight on Monday, in a new national lockdown to try to reduce a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and Peugeot maker PSA shareholders have approved a $52 billion merger to create Stellantis, the world's fourth-largest carmaker.

Southeast Asian ride-hailing and food delivery firm Grab is seeking a $750 million term loan, a term sheet showed on Monday after it announced that total group net revenue jumped by about 70% year-on-year in 2020 and had recovered to comfortably above pre-pandemic levels.

Tesla Inc shares rose to a record high in the first trading session of 2021, extending last year's more than eight-fold surge that helped it become the world's most valuable carmaker.

Indian shares notched record closing highs on Monday for a second straight session of the new year, as investor sentiment lifted after the country gave emergency use approvals to two coronavirus vaccines over the weekend.

Tesla Inc shares were set to open at a record high on Monday after the electric-car maker reported better-than-expected vehicle deliveries in 2020, extending a meteoric rally that has seen the stock surge more than 700%.

* 2021 target seen as realistic as car demand recovers (Recasts and adds analyst comment)

Malaysia's Top Glove Corp , the world's largest medical gloves maker, hiked its proposed dividend on Monday as its shares came under pressure from speculation the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines could hit demand for its products.

Japan's beer maker Kirin Holdings will invest $30 million in New Delhi-based B9 Beverages, the companies said on Monday, as it seeks to secure a spot in India's growing craft beer market amid falling sales at home.

Indian shares scaled new peaks on Monday to kick off the first trading week of the new year, as investor sentiment was upbeat after the country gave emergency use approvals to two coronavirus vaccines over the weekend.