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US stocks rise but jitters remain | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
US stocks have ended mainly higher, but concerns remain that a rise in bad debt could cause a wider financial crisis. | |
The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.32%, to end the day at 13,120.29, while the Nasdaq added 0.14%. But the Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 0.03%. | |
European shares closed up, and London's FTSE 100 climbed 0.24%. | |
Steps by central banks to calm the market, including the surprise US move to cut a key interest rate on Friday, have helped stocks recover some ground. | |
The US Federal Reserve reduced the rate it applies to loans for banks by 0.5% to 5.75% | |
Brian Levitt, corporate economist at OppenheimerFunds said though the Fed's move had been helpful, it was not enough to eliminate all of the unease in the market. | |
The Federal Reserve is not scheduled to meet until 18 September. Some analysts argue that until then market jitters will remain. | |
"There's a lot of uncertainties out there," said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at New York-based brokerage house Avalon Partners. | |
"The question is if the Fed did enough to satisfy the markets. Wall Street will be relentless until they cut the fed funds rate." | |
The recent turmoil has stemmed from a sharp rise in US home loan defaults, triggering fears of a wider financial crisis. | |
JP Morgan Chase was one of the main losers on Monday, ending 1.1% lower but clawing back from a 3% drop earlier in the day. Citigroup closed 0.8%, also recovering slightly from a 1.8% loss in earlier trading. | |
US Republican senator Richard Shelby, a former chairman of the US Senate's banking and housing committee, warned that the crisis would worsen before things improved. | US Republican senator Richard Shelby, a former chairman of the US Senate's banking and housing committee, warned that the crisis would worsen before things improved. |
Some firms would "not survive" the current volatility and some rates on certain sub-prime loans were set to increase, he said. | Some firms would "not survive" the current volatility and some rates on certain sub-prime loans were set to increase, he said. |
Housing slow-down | Housing slow-down |
The recent market volatility has been prompted by a wave of mortgage defaults in the US as the housing market slowed dramatically after a series of interest rate rises that have made paying back loans more expensive. | The recent market volatility has been prompted by a wave of mortgage defaults in the US as the housing market slowed dramatically after a series of interest rate rises that have made paying back loans more expensive. |
Earlier on Monday, US lender Thornburg Mortgage said it had sold $20.5bn of assets. | Earlier on Monday, US lender Thornburg Mortgage said it had sold $20.5bn of assets. |
The firm, which has been severely hit by credit problems, said it had offloaded billions of dollars worth of mortgage-backed securities in an attempt to better its financial position. | The firm, which has been severely hit by credit problems, said it had offloaded billions of dollars worth of mortgage-backed securities in an attempt to better its financial position. |
Financial shares have been hard hit due to the huge liabilities of banks and other financial firms linked to the unstable sub-prime mortgage sector. | Financial shares have been hard hit due to the huge liabilities of banks and other financial firms linked to the unstable sub-prime mortgage sector. |
The sub-prime sector makes loans to high-risk individuals and charges them higher rates of interest. | The sub-prime sector makes loans to high-risk individuals and charges them higher rates of interest. |
The sector boomed when thousands of people took out loans during the housing boom that petered out in early 2006. | The sector boomed when thousands of people took out loans during the housing boom that petered out in early 2006. |
Asian stocks | |
Japan's Nikkei share index closed 3% up on Monday, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index ended 5.6%. | Japan's Nikkei share index closed 3% up on Monday, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index ended 5.6%. |
Last week the Nikkei saw its biggest one-day fall in nearly six years, and other Asian markets also slumped. | |
At Monday's close, the Nikkei was at 15,732.48 points, up 458.80 points, or 3%, from Friday. | At Monday's close, the Nikkei was at 15,732.48 points, up 458.80 points, or 3%, from Friday. |
South Korean shares also surged ahead, with its Composite Stock Price Index closing up 5.7% at 1,731.27, its biggest percentage gain in more than five years, according to the Korea Exchange. | South Korean shares also surged ahead, with its Composite Stock Price Index closing up 5.7% at 1,731.27, its biggest percentage gain in more than five years, according to the Korea Exchange. |
Australian shares closed up 4.6% and Chinese stocks were ahead by 5.33%. | Australian shares closed up 4.6% and Chinese stocks were ahead by 5.33%. |