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Shares slide after bail-out fails Wall Street rallies on car hopes
(about 4 hours later)
World stock markets have fallen following the rejection of the bail-out package for US carmakers by the Senate. US shares have climbed on hopes that the government will intervene to help carmakers after the Senate rejected a $14bn (£9.4bn) bail-out.
However Wall Street pared most of its early sharp losses on news the White House may step in with funding. Suggestions that the White House may step in with funding saw Wall Street claw back early losses with the Dow Jones index ending 0.8% higher.
The Dow Jones index shed 0.9% in morning trading, while the FTSE 100 closed 2.5% down. The Cac-40 lost 2.8%. Earlier London's FTSE 100 closed 2.5% down while The Cac-40 lost 2.8%.
The failure of the $14bn (£9.4bn) bail-out deal for the US car industry to get Senate support has raised fears of job cuts and a possible industry collapse. The failure of the bail-out to get Senate support had raised fears of a possible industry collapse.
But the White House said it was considering using money earmarked to rescue US banks to bail out the car industry.But the White House said it was considering using money earmarked to rescue US banks to bail out the car industry.
Meanwhile the Nasdaq index closed 2.2% higher as investors bought into technology firms.
Observers said the move was driven by bets that the large stockpiles of cash at technology companies would help them weather the economic downturn.
Worried marketsWorried markets
If one of the big auto companies goes bust in the US, this could see a collapse in the entire supply chain Heino RulandFrankfurtFinanz White House considers auto rescueQ&A: Auto bail-outIf one of the big auto companies goes bust in the US, this could see a collapse in the entire supply chain Heino RulandFrankfurtFinanz White House considers auto rescueQ&A: Auto bail-out
"Today, the main thing is the uncertainty around the auto industry and whether or not it will go bust. This has markets worried," said Bernard McAlinden at NCB Stockbrokers. If US carmakers did go under, European and Asian carmakers could also be affected.
If they do go under, European and Asian carmakers could also be affected.
"If one of the big auto companies goes bust in the US, this could see a collapse in the entire supply chain. Groups like BMW, Honda and Nissan rely on this supply chain and they would suffer," said Heino Ruland at FrankfurtFinanz."If one of the big auto companies goes bust in the US, this could see a collapse in the entire supply chain. Groups like BMW, Honda and Nissan rely on this supply chain and they would suffer," said Heino Ruland at FrankfurtFinanz.
But it is not just the carmakers that have driven markets down. But it is not just the carmakers that have worried markets.
News that Bank of America plans to cut 35,000 jobs has also pushed financial stocks lower across Europe. News that Bank of America plans to cut 35,000 jobs pushed financial stocks lower across Europe.
"The US economy like other developed economies is going to contract in 2009 and that makes the first half of 2009 quite problematic for equity markets," said Darren Winder, equity strategist at Casenove."The US economy like other developed economies is going to contract in 2009 and that makes the first half of 2009 quite problematic for equity markets," said Darren Winder, equity strategist at Casenove.
Stimulus packageStimulus package
In Asian trade, Japan's Nikkei share index fell 5.6% while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index sank 6.9%. Other regional markets also fell.In Asian trade, Japan's Nikkei share index fell 5.6% while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index sank 6.9%. Other regional markets also fell.
Following the market falls. the Japanese government announced a 23 trillion yen (£170.8bn; $254.6bn) stimulus package.Following the market falls. the Japanese government announced a 23 trillion yen (£170.8bn; $254.6bn) stimulus package.
The package is designed to boost employment, encourage lending and inject capital into financial markets.The package is designed to boost employment, encourage lending and inject capital into financial markets.
Ten trillion yen will go on tax breaks and public financing while 13 trillion yen will be used to prop up financial markets.Ten trillion yen will go on tax breaks and public financing while 13 trillion yen will be used to prop up financial markets.