This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/7203966.stm
The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 16 | Version 17 |
|---|---|
| Recession fears hit stock markets | Recession fears hit stock markets |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| US and European stocks fell, with the UK's FTSE 100 index slumping as much as 3.9% at one point, on fears that key global economies will enter recession. | |
| On Tuesday, the US Federal Reserve made its biggest rate cut for 25 years to stoke up growth and bolster markets. | On Tuesday, the US Federal Reserve made its biggest rate cut for 25 years to stoke up growth and bolster markets. |
| However, worries persist that the move may have come too late, as many firms have already reported lower profits and a worsening business environment. | However, worries persist that the move may have come too late, as many firms have already reported lower profits and a worsening business environment. |
| Analysts said that stock markets would probably be volatile in coming weeks. | Analysts said that stock markets would probably be volatile in coming weeks. |
| On Tuesday, the European Central Bank hinted it would not follow the Fed by slashing rates, and analysts said the Bank of England was unlikely to accelerate rate cuts. | On Tuesday, the European Central Bank hinted it would not follow the Fed by slashing rates, and analysts said the Bank of England was unlikely to accelerate rate cuts. |
| Speaking to the BBC, billionaire investor George Soros said it was going to be difficult for the UK and US to avoid a recession, even after the Fed cut its main interest rate to 3.5% from 4.25%. | Speaking to the BBC, billionaire investor George Soros said it was going to be difficult for the UK and US to avoid a recession, even after the Fed cut its main interest rate to 3.5% from 4.25%. |
| The markets are expecting a flood of profit warnings in the next few months Matthias Schellenberg,ING Investment Management. | The markets are expecting a flood of profit warnings in the next few months Matthias Schellenberg,ING Investment Management. |
| The worry is that slower economic growth will hurt corporate earnings, and stocks fell across all sectors on Wednesday. Banks, oil companies and technology firms were amongst the biggest decliners. | The worry is that slower economic growth will hurt corporate earnings, and stocks fell across all sectors on Wednesday. Banks, oil companies and technology firms were amongst the biggest decliners. |
| "The uncertainty about corporate earnings growth in 2008 has risen, not only in the financial sector," said Matthias Schellenberg, managing director at ING Investment Management. | "The uncertainty about corporate earnings growth in 2008 has risen, not only in the financial sector," said Matthias Schellenberg, managing director at ING Investment Management. |
| "The markets are expecting a flood of profit warnings in the next few months." | "The markets are expecting a flood of profit warnings in the next few months." |
| Market movers | Market movers |
| In New York, the main Dow Jones index dropped 1.45%, with the technology-dominated Nasdaq sliding about 2.70%. | |
| The UK's FTSE 100 index finished a nerve-wracking session 131 points, or 2.2%, lower at 5,609.3, erasing the gains it made on Tuesday. | |
| Germany's Dax lost 4.88% at 6,439.21, while France's Cac 40 was down 4.25% at 4,636.76. | |
| So far this year, the FTSE 100 has lost about 14% of its value, wiping £228bn off the total value of the companies listed on the index. | So far this year, the FTSE 100 has lost about 14% of its value, wiping £228bn off the total value of the companies listed on the index. |
| Germany Dax's index has been one of the worst hit in Europe, down almost 20% this year. | Germany Dax's index has been one of the worst hit in Europe, down almost 20% this year. |
| Werner Bader, a stock strategist at LBBW bank, put the falls down to the fact that German firms make most of their earnings overseas, particularly the US. | Werner Bader, a stock strategist at LBBW bank, put the falls down to the fact that German firms make most of their earnings overseas, particularly the US. |
| "Dax companies are more exposed to the global economy because of their strong exports," he said. | "Dax companies are more exposed to the global economy because of their strong exports," he said. |
| Caution rules | Caution rules |
| Despite a late rally in stock prices on Tuesday and the positive session in Asia on Wednesday, investors were still being cautious. | Despite a late rally in stock prices on Tuesday and the positive session in Asia on Wednesday, investors were still being cautious. |
| "After digesting the news, markets have come to the conclusion that it will not resolve problems in the US economy," said Niels From at Dresdner Kleinwort. | "After digesting the news, markets have come to the conclusion that it will not resolve problems in the US economy," said Niels From at Dresdner Kleinwort. |
| We consider the Fed's rate cut still insufficient for the global financial markets to completely recover and help the Japanese stocks to fully rebound Shinichi Ichikawa, Credit Suisse Bank boss warns of trialsSoros sees US recessionSend us your comments | We consider the Fed's rate cut still insufficient for the global financial markets to completely recover and help the Japanese stocks to fully rebound Shinichi Ichikawa, Credit Suisse Bank boss warns of trialsSoros sees US recessionSend us your comments |
| "Caution still rules the long-term picture," added Markus Steinbeis of Boston-based Pioneer Investments. | "Caution still rules the long-term picture," added Markus Steinbeis of Boston-based Pioneer Investments. |
| Bank of England governor Mervyn King said that the UK faces its toughest economic challenges since 1997 when the Bank gained independence from the government. | Bank of England governor Mervyn King said that the UK faces its toughest economic challenges since 1997 when the Bank gained independence from the government. |
| Even so, with the Bank widely tipped to reduce rates to 5.25% from 5.5% next month, analysts are saying that more extensive cuts are unlikely. | Even so, with the Bank widely tipped to reduce rates to 5.25% from 5.5% next month, analysts are saying that more extensive cuts are unlikely. |
| This is because the Bank said the risk of inflation had "worsened markedly". | This is because the Bank said the risk of inflation had "worsened markedly". |
| European Central Bank (ECB) President Jean-Claude Trichet also highlighted the risk of inflation during a speech to the European Parliament on Wednesday. | European Central Bank (ECB) President Jean-Claude Trichet also highlighted the risk of inflation during a speech to the European Parliament on Wednesday. |
| Mr Trichet said that price growth was still the ECB's main concern, and this outweighed the risks of slowing economic growth. | Mr Trichet said that price growth was still the ECB's main concern, and this outweighed the risks of slowing economic growth. |
| "In all circumstances, but even more particularly in demanding times of significant market correction and turbulences, it is the responsibility of the central bank to solidly anchor inflation expectations to avoid additional volatility in already highly volatile markets," he explained. | "In all circumstances, but even more particularly in demanding times of significant market correction and turbulences, it is the responsibility of the central bank to solidly anchor inflation expectations to avoid additional volatility in already highly volatile markets," he explained. |
| Recession fears | Recession fears |
| Some investors cautioned that the Fed's sudden, and sizeable, rate cut seemed like a panic decision. | Some investors cautioned that the Fed's sudden, and sizeable, rate cut seemed like a panic decision. |
| They also questioned whether it would be enough to turn around a slump in the American housing market, signs of growing US unemployment and weakening consumer spending. | They also questioned whether it would be enough to turn around a slump in the American housing market, signs of growing US unemployment and weakening consumer spending. |
| "The Fed's action provided a very positive surprise," said Tsuyoshi Segawa, strategist at Shinko Securities in Tokyo. | "The Fed's action provided a very positive surprise," said Tsuyoshi Segawa, strategist at Shinko Securities in Tokyo. |
| "But people are also starting to think that things may be so bad they needed to act." | "But people are also starting to think that things may be so bad they needed to act." |
| Credit Suisse's chief strategist Shinichi Ichikawa added: "We consider the Fed's rate cut still insufficient for the global financial markets to completely recover and help the Japanese stocks to fully rebound." | Credit Suisse's chief strategist Shinichi Ichikawa added: "We consider the Fed's rate cut still insufficient for the global financial markets to completely recover and help the Japanese stocks to fully rebound." |
| Earlier on Wednesday, Japan's Nikkei 225 had closed up 2%, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 10.7%. | Earlier on Wednesday, Japan's Nikkei 225 had closed up 2%, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 10.7%. |
| In the US, the Dow Jones closed on Tuesday 1.1% lower. | In the US, the Dow Jones closed on Tuesday 1.1% lower. |