Global markets remain volatile as week of drama comes to a close
Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite recover some ground after fierce sell-off
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Your support makes all the difference.London’s FTSE 100 slipped on Friday after yet another fierce sell-off across US and Asian stocks, fuelled by concerns that global interest rates may rise faster than previously expected.
The UK’s benchmark stock index ended the session down around 1.3 per cent having already suffered a more than 1 per cent fall on Thursday after the Bank of England held interest rates steady at its regular policy meeting but indicated that they may rise again soon.
That sent the pound sharply higher, which in turn weighed on equities. A vast proportion of FTSE 100 revenue is generated outside of the UK, meaning that a strong pound tends to send the index lower.
Elsewhere, China’s main stock index fell by just over 4 per cent on Friday after the US’s Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 4.1 per cent on Thursday and the S&P 500 lost 3.7 per cent. Earlier in the week the Dow was hit by a record 1,175-point loss triggered by better than expected US jobs data that sent US bond yields higher as it introduced the prospect of higher inflation.
On Friday, however, the US indices showed signs of tentatively stabilising.
Here’s a look at how all the action unfolded.
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Euro on the riseThe euro has risen against the US dollar in response to this morning’s turbulent market events – an improvement that nevertheless will not prevent the currency experiencing its worst week since October 2017.Europe’s single currency rose 0.2 per cent at $1.227, having lost 1.47 per cent against the dollar over the course of the week.
The FTSE appears to be calming somewhat after its initial jittery drop, the decline holding steady at around 26 points or 0.4 per cent.
Away from the drama of the markets, the UK's goods trade deficit jumped to its highest level in 16 months in December, as rising global oil prices pushed up the price of fuel imports.You can read more from our Economics Editor Ben Chu here:
IG Market Analyst Joshua Mahony comments on this morning’s market developments:“The FTSE looks to close out the week with another bearish shift. The stock slide is back on the cards today, with yesterday’s sharp deterioration in US indices paving the way for a drop in Asian and European markets. “The explosion in volatility this week has pushed the VIX to levels not seen for over two years, with yesterday’s drop in the S&P ensuring we are likely to see volumes remain elevated as we head into next week. The energy and utilities sector appears to be one of the main losers this morning.“Ahead of the open we expect the Dow Jones to open 230 points higher, at 24,090.”
The FTSE 100 has tentatively picked up since 10am and is now only down 15 points or 0.2 per cent after a night of panic on Wall Street and Asia.
That moderate relief proved short-lived. The FTSE 100 is back down again, now trading around 0.6 per cent lower on the day.
As the US stock markets resume trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has opened almost 1 per cent higher on the day, broadly in line with the S&P 500.
It's a wrap....
The FTSE 100 has closed for the week and it turned out to be another damp day for the index. It ended the day down 1.3 per cent. Meanwhile, in the US, markets are still fluctuating between slim gains and small losses. Traders still appear on edge so next week will undoubtedly be another interesting one.
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