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Global Stocks Drop Amid a Worsening Economic Outlook in China Global Stocks Drop Amid a Worsening Economic Outlook in China
(about 2 hours later)
Stocks fell on Friday as another week of volatile trading came to a close with uncertainty over the health of the global economy and the impact of the trade war continuing to grip financial markets. The global stock sell-off deepened on Friday, as another week of volatile trading came to a close and uncertainty over the health of the global economy continued to grip financial markets.
Wall Street was lower in early trading and markets across Asia and Europe also tumbled. Data on China’s retail sales and industrial output showed that the country’s slowdown deepened in November. The S&P 500 stock index fell more than 1.5 percent in early afternoon trading, bringing its losses for the year so far to more than 2 percent. Markets across Europe and Asia were also lower, as were economically sensitive commodities like crude oil, which fell more than 2 percent.
Friday’s decline came after China’s retail sales and industrial output suggested the country’s slowdown deepened in November as the trade war wore on. The world’s second-largest economy had already reported a slowdown in trade, and a sharp slowdown in economic growth.
[Read more about why economists say China’s slowdown is the worst since the global financial crisis a decade ago.][Read more about why economists say China’s slowdown is the worst since the global financial crisis a decade ago.]
Stocks were buoyed earlier this week by signs of a thaw between China and the United States that suggested Beijing and Washington are making progress toward a trade deal. That good news on that front continued on Friday, with China pledging to suspend additional tariffs on imports of American-made cars for three months starting in the new year. Automakers’ shares rose Friday on the news. Stocks had been buoyed earlier this week by signs of a thaw between China and the United States that suggested Beijing and Washington are making progress toward a deal to end the trade war. The good news on that front continued on Friday, with China pledging to suspend additional tariffs on imports of American-made cars for three months starting in the new year. Automakers’ shares rose Friday on the news.
But more broadly, investors remained jittery, and Friday’s early decline erased the week’s gains for the benchmark S&P 500-stock index. The index is in negative territory for the year. But more broadly, investors remained jittery, and Friday’s early decline erased the week’s gains for the benchmark S&P 500 stock index. The index is in negative territory for the year.
Wall Street had been faring better than markets around the world, as the United States economy continued to show signs of robust growth and job creation, even amid a slowdown in China, Germany and Japan. But gains through late September faded quickly as investors begin to assess the potential for trade concerns, economic uncertainty and rising interest rates to erode corporate profit growth.Wall Street had been faring better than markets around the world, as the United States economy continued to show signs of robust growth and job creation, even amid a slowdown in China, Germany and Japan. But gains through late September faded quickly as investors begin to assess the potential for trade concerns, economic uncertainty and rising interest rates to erode corporate profit growth.
[Read more about the turmoil that rocked Wall Street last week.][Read more about the turmoil that rocked Wall Street last week.]
The S&P 500 was down more than 1.5 percent by midday. The technology-heavy Nasdaq composite also added to recent losses as Apple, whose stock has been weighed down by concerns of a iPhone sales slowdown in China, fell 2 percent. The weaker-than-expected data from China came just days after trade figures also disappointed. The technology-heavy Nasdaq composite also added to recent losses as Apple, whose stock has been weighed down by concerns of a iPhone sales slowdown in China, fell 2 percent. The weaker-than-expected data from China came just days after trade figures also disappointed.
Markets across Asia dropped. The SSE index in Shanghai ended trading down 1.5 percent, while stocks in Shenzen were off 2.5 percent. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index fell 2 percent, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dipped 1.6 percent. Earlier in the day, markets across Asia dropped. The SSE index in Shanghai ended trading down 1.5 percent, while stocks in Shenzen were off 2.5 percent. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index fell 2 percent, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dipped 1.6 percent.
European markets followed a similar downward path, edging down through to the afternoon. In Britain, where Prime Minister Theresa May was rebuffed by European leaders in her request for help in navigating Britain’s exit from the European Union, the FTSE 100 was down 0.6 percent around midday. France’s CAC 40 had slipped about 1 percent, the DAX index in Germany had dipped 0.6 percent and the Euro Stoxx 50 was down 0.7 percent. European markets followed a similar downward path, though the declines there weren’t as steep. In Britain, where Prime Minister Theresa May was rebuffed by European leaders in her request for help in navigating Britain’s exit from the European Union, the FTSE 100 was down 0.5 percent. The Euro Stoxx 50 was down 0.8 percent.
Mrs. May’s continuing troubles also appeared to taking a toll on the pound, which slid through the day and was at $1.254 by early afternoon.Mrs. May’s continuing troubles also appeared to taking a toll on the pound, which slid through the day and was at $1.254 by early afternoon.