By Chuck Mikolajczak
NEW YORK (Reuters) - European shares reached a four-week high on Monday and the dollar index touched a two-month peak as investors braced for an interest rate hike from the U.S. Federal Reserve.
The Fed should raise rates "in the coming months" if growth picks up and the labor market continues to improve, Fed Chair Yellen said on Friday. St. Louis Fed President James Bullard chimed in, saying on Monday global markets appear to be "well-prepared" for a summer rate hike, although he did not specify a date for the policy move.
The possibility of a rate increase at the Federal Open Market Committee's June 14-15 meeting was 28 percent, according to CME's Fedwatch program. Bets on an increase at the July 26-27 policy meeting edged up to 61 percent, more than double the level of a month ago.
"The stage is set, markets are ready for the curtain to be drawn back," said Peter Kenny, senior market strategist at Global Markets Advisory Group, in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey.
"The bottom line is, with relatively hawkish commentary out of Bullard, which has been consistent, clear messaging by Chair Yellen that we should expecting a move in the next few months, markets are now well prepared and ready to embrace that."
Against a basket of currencies, the dollar was up 0.14 percent at 95.656 (DXY) after climbing as high as 95.968, its highest level since March 28.
The euro zone's blue-chip Euro STOXX 50 index (STOXX50E) was 0.38 percent higher at 3,125.43, while Germany's DAX (GDAXI) was up 0.46 percent after hitting a one-month high.
Trading volumes were thin as the London and New York markets are closed for a public holiday.
MSCI's index of world shares (MIWD00000PUS) edged up 0.03 percent. S&P 500 e-minis (ESc1) were up 4.75 points, or 0.23 percent.
While higher U.S. interest rates would sap global liquidity, Wall Street and European investors took Yellen's comments in their stride, as they suggested the world's largest economy was strong enough to weather another rate hike, following from the December hike.
This week investors will keep an eye on the all-important U.S. non-farm payrolls and the Institute for Supply Management surveys. The May jobs report is due on Friday and a solid reading could heighten expectations for a June move.
Economists expect U.S. employers to have added 161,000 jobs this month, slightly more than they did in April. Hourly wages are expected to show a 0.2 percent increase from the previous month.
Crude oil futures remained shy of the $50 per barrel level after marking weekly gains, feeling some pressure from the stronger U.S. dollar that made it more expensive for holders of other currencies.
Brent crude (LCOc1) was last up to $49.72 a barrel, after climbing above $50 for the first time in six months last week. U.S. crude (CLc1) was up 0.55 percent at $49.60.
The dollar's strength took a toll on spot gold