Stocks Deepen Losses as Weak Data Fuel Growth Woes

(Bloomberg) — Stocks slid and Treasuries rose after a gauge of U.S. manufacturing posted the weakest reading since the end of the last recession, fueling fears of an impending global slowdown and boosting haven assets.

The S&P 500 fell the most in five weeks, pushing through a key support level, after the Institute for Supply Management’s factory index slipped to the lowest since June 2009. Banks led the fall as rates moved lower, followed by industrial companies. The tumbled toward 1.6%, and the dollar weakened against major peers. Gold and the Japanese yen advanced.

“We are clearly seeing a very weak backdrop for manufacturing. The concern is the contagion effect into the services economy, which is the driving force of the U.S. economy,” said Katie Nixon, chief investment officer at Northern Trust (NASDAQ:) Wealth Management. “We cannot take this lightly and we think the Fed shouldn’t take it lightly either.”

The weak factory gauge, which came on the heels of similarly disappointing numbers out of Europe on Tuesday, renewed concerns about a global economic slump amid the U.S.-China trade war and sparked another round of speculation about how much the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates this year. Investors may get some signals from the slew of Fed speakers this week, which include Chairman Jerome Powell on Friday, when the latest jobs report will also be released.

Elsewhere, European shares fell the most in almost seven weeks following data that showed the region’s manufacturing sector slumped last month and inflation slowed. The euro advanced after the European Union was said to be ready to consider a time limit on the Irish Brexit backstop. Oil fell to the lowest in almost a month amid a grim outlook for global energy demand.

Asian markets were subdued as Hong Kong and China were closed for holidays, while Australia’s dollar slid after the central bank cut its benchmark interest rate to a record low.

Stocks

• The S&P 500 Index fell 1.2% as of 1:41 p.m. New York time.
• The Index fell 1.1%, while the lost 1.2%.
• The Index sank 1.3%.
• The U.K.’s fell 0.7%.
• The MSCI Asia Pacific Index gained 0.4%.
• The MSCI Emerging Market Index declined 0.3%.

Currencies

• The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index fell 0.1%.
• The euro rose 0.3% to $1.0929.
• The British pound fell 0.2% to $1.2270.
• The Japanese yen rose 0.4% to 107.68 per dollar.

Bonds

• The yield on 10-year Treasuries fell four basis points to 1.63%.
• Germany’s 10-year yield rose one basis point to -0.57%.
• Britain’s 10-year yield fell one basis point to 0.47%.

Commodities

Disclaimer: Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. All CFDs (stocks, indexes, futures) and Forex prices are not provided by exchanges but rather by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual market price, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Therefore Fusion Media doesn`t bear any responsibility for any trading losses you might incur as a result of using this data.

Fusion Media or anyone involved with Fusion Media will not accept any liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance on the information including data, quotes, charts and buy/sell signals contained within this website. Please be fully informed regarding the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, it is one of the riskiest investment forms possible.