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S&P and Dow Slide as Evidence of Global Slowdown Mounts S&P and Dow Slide as Evidence of Global Slowdown Mounts
(32 minutes later)
Stocks tumbled for a second day on Wednesday, as investors faced new evidence that global growth is under threat. Stocks slid on Wednesday, a second day of declines that has ended a relatively calm stretch of trading on Wall Street, as investors faced new evidence that global growth is threatened by the trade war.
The two day drop has ended what had been a relatively calm stretch of trading on Wall Street. Just after 12 p.m. on Wall Street, the S&P 500 was down nearly 2 percent and on track for its worst day since late August.
The S&P 500 dropped by more than 1.5 percent in by midday Wednesday, slightly more than the decline the day before. The selling this week began after a key measure of manufacturing activity showed that factory output in the United States had slowed to levels last seen at the end of the financial crisis a decade ago. The selling this week began after a key measure of manufacturing activity showed that factory output in the United States had slowed to levels last seen at the end of the financial crisis a decade ago.
Industrial companies and materials stocks — a category that includes chemical companies and fertilizer manufacturers — suffered the steepest drops by midday Wednesday. Airlines suffered particularly steep drops after Delta provided an updated forecast on the third-quarter earnings that disappointed the market. Delta was down roughly 6 percent.
The two-day decline has ended a quiet period for investors in the United States. The S&P 500 had not fallen 1 percent or more on any single day in September as investors awaited the next round of trade talks between the United States and China. Those are expected to happen later this month.
That calm was shattered on Tuesday, after the Institute for Supply Management reported that its manufacturing index fell in September to its lowest level since June 2009. It was the second month of contraction for factory activity in the United States.
Also on Tuesday, the World Trade Organization cut its forecast for growth in trade. World trade in merchandise is expected to expand just 1.2 percent this year, in the weakest year since the heat of the financial crisis in 2009.Also on Tuesday, the World Trade Organization cut its forecast for growth in trade. World trade in merchandise is expected to expand just 1.2 percent this year, in the weakest year since the heat of the financial crisis in 2009.
And on Wednesday, a private report on hiring in the United States was slightly slower than economists had forecast. The report, released by ADP, is a precursor to the monthly jobs report from the Labor Department, though it is not necessarily indicative of what the official data will show.And on Wednesday, a private report on hiring in the United States was slightly slower than economists had forecast. The report, released by ADP, is a precursor to the monthly jobs report from the Labor Department, though it is not necessarily indicative of what the official data will show.
The selling was sharper in Europe, where London’s FTSE 100 had dropped more than 3 percent by Wednesday afternoon. In Asia, stocks had weakened slightly, but not to the same extent experienced in Europe. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed down 0.19 percent, while the Nikkei 225 finished 0.49 percent lower.The selling was sharper in Europe, where London’s FTSE 100 had dropped more than 3 percent by Wednesday afternoon. In Asia, stocks had weakened slightly, but not to the same extent experienced in Europe. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed down 0.19 percent, while the Nikkei 225 finished 0.49 percent lower.
In Europe, Germany has become a point of concern, with its factory orders dropping as Chinese companies, hit by tariffs on exports to the United States, purchase less German machinery.In Europe, Germany has become a point of concern, with its factory orders dropping as Chinese companies, hit by tariffs on exports to the United States, purchase less German machinery.
At the same time, Britain remains enmeshed in negotiations over Brexit and faces huge uncertainty over its future trading relationship with Europe. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to unveil a new proposal on Wednesday for the terms of leaving the European Union at a Conservative Party conference, but there is still a risk that Britain will leave the bloc at the end of the month without a deal.At the same time, Britain remains enmeshed in negotiations over Brexit and faces huge uncertainty over its future trading relationship with Europe. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to unveil a new proposal on Wednesday for the terms of leaving the European Union at a Conservative Party conference, but there is still a risk that Britain will leave the bloc at the end of the month without a deal.
The two day decline has ended a quiet period for investors in the United States. The S&P 500 had not fallen 1 percent or more on any single day in September. But trading activity could pick up with corporate earnings season for the third-quarter about to begin.