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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Global stock markets still jumpy | Global stock markets still jumpy |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Fears about a global economic slowdown have continued to weigh on stock markets around the world, with Japan's main share index falling nearly 3%. | Fears about a global economic slowdown have continued to weigh on stock markets around the world, with Japan's main share index falling nearly 3%. |
| Concerns over the state of the US economy and weakening growth in the eurozone pushed shares down sharply on both sides of the Atlantic on Thursday. | |
| Lack of confidence spread to Asia with markets in Singapore, Australia, China and India all down more than 2%. | Lack of confidence spread to Asia with markets in Singapore, Australia, China and India all down more than 2%. |
| Analysts will be closely watching US employment figures due out on Friday. | Analysts will be closely watching US employment figures due out on Friday. |
| 'Uncertainty' | 'Uncertainty' |
| Experts believe the US economy will have about shed 75,000 in August, the eighth month in a row that employment numbers have fallen. | Experts believe the US economy will have about shed 75,000 in August, the eighth month in a row that employment numbers have fallen. |
| Figures published on Thursday showed that US private employers cut 33,000 jobs in August. | Figures published on Thursday showed that US private employers cut 33,000 jobs in August. |
| This came on top of a report by the Federal Reserve which said economic activity continued to be "weak". | |
| Amid the uncertainty, few investors are willing to buy Masayuki Otani, Securities Japan | Amid the uncertainty, few investors are willing to buy Masayuki Otani, Securities Japan |
| On the other hand, recent figures for factory orders showed that US manufacturers were proving more resilient in the face of tough economic conditions than had been expected. | On the other hand, recent figures for factory orders showed that US manufacturers were proving more resilient in the face of tough economic conditions than had been expected. |
| Japan's benchmark Nikkei index fell 361.54 points to 12,196.12 amid a widespread sell-off of shares in Asia. | |
| The Hang Seng index fell more than 3% in Singapore while markets also fell sharply in China, Australia and India. | |
| "Amid the uncertainty, few investors are willing to buy," said Masayuki, Otani, chief market analyst at Securities Japan. | "Amid the uncertainty, few investors are willing to buy," said Masayuki, Otani, chief market analyst at Securities Japan. |
| "Several bad things happened at once," he added, explaining the fall. | |
| Gloom | |
| Worries about inflation have prevented central banks in Europe from cutting interest rates to help forestall a slowdown. | Worries about inflation have prevented central banks in Europe from cutting interest rates to help forestall a slowdown. |
| But analysts believe this could change soon with economic forecasts across Europe looking increasingly gloomy. | But analysts believe this could change soon with economic forecasts across Europe looking increasingly gloomy. |
| The European Central Bank cut its 2009 growth forecast from 1.5% to 1.2% on Thursday while the UK economy stalled in the second quarter. | The European Central Bank cut its 2009 growth forecast from 1.5% to 1.2% on Thursday while the UK economy stalled in the second quarter. |
| The Dow fell 344.65 points, or 3%, to 11,188.23 points on Thursday - the worst fall it had seen since late June. | The Dow fell 344.65 points, or 3%, to 11,188.23 points on Thursday - the worst fall it had seen since late June. |
| In London, the falls took the FTSE 100's losses over the past two sessions to 4.6% as the economic gloom deepened. | In London, the falls took the FTSE 100's losses over the past two sessions to 4.6% as the economic gloom deepened. |
| It closed down 137.6 points at 5,362.1. | It closed down 137.6 points at 5,362.1. |
| Meanwhile Germany's Dax-30 index fell 2.9% to 6,279.57 points and France's Cac-40 index lost 3.2%. | Meanwhile Germany's Dax-30 index fell 2.9% to 6,279.57 points and France's Cac-40 index lost 3.2%. |