World stocks dipped yesterday amid weakness in the energy sector and as worries about a global slowdown in smartphone demand dented the technology sector, while oil prices fell after US President Donald Trump said prices were artificially high.
While the MSCI index of global stock markets was down 0.91 per cent on the day, it was still poised for its second week in the black after a strong start to the corporate earnings season.
A robust earnings season could offset fears of slowing global growth and help stock markets recover from a turbulent first quarter which saw greater volatility, a trade spat between the United States and China, and increased geopolitical tensions in the Middle East over Syria.
“While fundamentals remain robust, geopolitics and trade war fears, concerns over slowing global growth, and idiosyncratic issues in the tech sector have all weighed,” Deutsche Bank strategists wrote in note to clients, noting that a full-blown trade war between the US and China was a major risk.
“In equities we see the recent correction as overdone, and the first quarter earnings season could act as the needed circuit breaker.”
Wall Street equities slid on weakness in energy stocks, dented by the falling oil prices, and a second session of limp tech stocks following a slide by Apple Inc and its suppliers on Thursday.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 187.96 points, or 0.76 per cent, to 24,476.93, the S&P 500 lost 19.45 points, or 0.72 per cent, to 2,673.68 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 72.64 points, or 1 per cent, to 7,165.42.
Oil prices tanked after Mr Trump said via Twitter that prices were “artificially very high” and “will not be accepted.”
US crude fell 0.42 per cent to $68.00 per barrel and Brent was at $73.35, down 0.58 per cent on the day.
However, they were still set for a second consecutive week of gains, buoyed by tightening supplies and continued support from Opec and its allies on supply cuts.
The recent surge in oil prices to their highest for more than three years supported bond yields across the euro zone. Higher oil prices tend to push up inflation, which strengthens the case for tighter monetary policy and higher rates.
Meanwhile, Shares in Europe fell 0.14 per cent but were on track for a fourth week of gains.