LIVE MARKETS-Nasdaq hits another record; Eli Lilly, Tesla rise

* U.S. stocks up in early trading

* Healthcare leads S&P 500 sector gainers; staples down

* Euro STOXX 600 index up ~0.8%

* Dollar, crude dip; gold, bitcoin up

* U.S. 10-Year Treasury yield ~1.48%

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NASDAQ HITS ANOTHER RECORD; ELI LILLY, TESLA RISE (0950 EDT/1350 GMT)

Major U.S. stock indexes are higher in early trading on Thursday, with the Nasdaq setting a record intraday high at the open and shares of Eli Lilly jumping.

Healthcare is leading sector gainers for the S&P 500, with shares of Eli Lilly up more than 9% in early trading after the company said it will apply for U.S. health regulator's accelerated approval for its experimental Alzheimer's drug this year.

Tesla shares are extending recent gains and boosting the Nasdaq and S&P 500 . Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk said he would list SpaceX's space internet venture, Starlink, when its cash flow is reasonably predictable, and said Tesla shareholders could get preference in investing.

Here is the early U.S. market snapshot:

(Caroline Valetkevitch)

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S&P 500 MAY SOON BE RUMBLING, BUMBLING, OR STUMBLING (0900 EDT/1300 GMT)

In many respects, the S&P 500 index has been in a choppy holding pattern for a number of months.

Since closing at a then record 4,232.60 on May 7, the benchmark index has only been able to exceed that level on a closing basis by at most 0.54%. It ended Wednesday just 0.21% above it.

Meanwhile, since May 7, sell offs of 2%-4% on a closing basis have been quickly erased, with the SPX recovering back to the upper bounds of its recent range in short order.

As a result of this action, historical volatility measures have collapsed. In fact, daily Bollinger Band $(BB)$ width ended Wednesday at a near 2-year low:

Compressed volatility does not in itself predict direction, but it can suggest a market is ripe for much more spirited action one way or the other. Upon a range resolution, the next trend can emerge.

Since late 2018, there have only been two lower daily BB width readings: Oct. 8, 2018 and July 31, 2019. Subsequent to those dates, the SPX did collapse around 19% and 5% in a matter of days or weeks.

Therefore, just using the upper and lower Bollinger Bands as potential momentum triggers, an SPX breakout of roughly the 4,175-4,265 zone may spark volatility.

In that event, gyrations may increase dramatically, or a sustained thrust may develop in the direction of the break.

(Terence Gabriel)

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FOR THURSDAY'S LIVE MARKETS' POSTS PRIOR TO 0900 EDT/1300 GMT - CLICK HERE:

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(Terence Gabriel is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own)