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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Global stock markets still jumpy | Global stock markets still jumpy |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Fears about a global economic slowdown have continued to weigh on stock markets around the world, with Japan's main share index falling nearly 3%. | Fears about a global economic slowdown have continued to weigh on stock markets around the world, with Japan's main share index falling nearly 3%. |
| Lack of confidence was evident across Asia with markets in Singapore, China Australia and India all down 2%. | Lack of confidence was evident across Asia with markets in Singapore, China Australia and India all down 2%. |
| In Europe, markets fell in London, Paris and Frankfurt although not as sharply as on Thursday when eurozone and US economic worries hit sentiment. | In Europe, markets fell in London, Paris and Frankfurt although not as sharply as on Thursday when eurozone and US economic worries hit sentiment. |
| Analysts will be closely watching US employment figures due out on Friday. | Analysts will be closely watching US employment figures due out on Friday. |
| Wall Street saw heavy falls on Thursday, the Dow Jones dropping more than 3%, as traders reacted to a slew of poor economic data. | Wall Street saw heavy falls on Thursday, the Dow Jones dropping more than 3%, as traders reacted to a slew of poor economic data. |
| 'Uncertainty' | 'Uncertainty' |
| Figures published on Thursday showed that US private employers cut 33,000 jobs in August. | Figures published on Thursday showed that US private employers cut 33,000 jobs in August. |
| This came on top of a report by the Federal Reserve which said economic activity continued to be "weak". | This came on top of a report by the Federal Reserve which said economic activity continued to be "weak". |
| Experts believe Friday's figures will show that the US economy will have about shed 75,000 in August, the eighth month in a row that employment numbers have fallen. | Experts believe Friday's figures will show that the US economy will have about shed 75,000 in August, the eighth month in a row that employment numbers have fallen. |
| Amid the uncertainty, few investors are willing to buy Masayuki Otani, Securities Japan | Amid the uncertainty, few investors are willing to buy Masayuki Otani, Securities Japan |
| Japan's benchmark Nikkei index fell 361.54 points to 12,196.12 amid a widespread sell-off of shares in Asia. | Japan's benchmark Nikkei index fell 361.54 points to 12,196.12 amid a widespread sell-off of shares in Asia. |
| The Hang Seng index fell more than 3% in Hong Kong while markets also fell sharply in China, Australia and India. | |
| "Amid the uncertainty, few investors are willing to buy," said Masayuki, Otani, chief market analyst at Securities Japan. | "Amid the uncertainty, few investors are willing to buy," said Masayuki, Otani, chief market analyst at Securities Japan. |
| "Several bad things happened at once," he added, explaining the fall. | "Several bad things happened at once," he added, explaining the fall. |
| Gloom | Gloom |
| Worries about inflation have prevented central banks in Europe from cutting interest rates to help forestall a slowdown. | Worries about inflation have prevented central banks in Europe from cutting interest rates to help forestall a slowdown. |
| But analysts believe this could change soon with economic forecasts across Europe looking increasingly gloomy. | But analysts believe this could change soon with economic forecasts across Europe looking increasingly gloomy. |
| The European Central Bank cut its 2009 growth forecast from 1.5% to 1.2% on Thursday while the UK economy stalled in the second quarter. | The European Central Bank cut its 2009 growth forecast from 1.5% to 1.2% on Thursday while the UK economy stalled in the second quarter. |
| The FTSE 100 shed 31 points in London in early trading, having fallen 2% on Thursday. | The FTSE 100 shed 31 points in London in early trading, having fallen 2% on Thursday. |
| Markets in Paris and Frankfurt continued their recent downward trend, the Cac-40 index falling 33 points and the Dax-40 dropping 64 points. | Markets in Paris and Frankfurt continued their recent downward trend, the Cac-40 index falling 33 points and the Dax-40 dropping 64 points. |
| In a separate development, the Russian rouble fell against the dollar a day after Russia's central bank intervened to support the currency amid concerns about a flight of foreign capital after the conflict with Georgia. | In a separate development, the Russian rouble fell against the dollar a day after Russia's central bank intervened to support the currency amid concerns about a flight of foreign capital after the conflict with Georgia. |
| The central bank sold up to $4bn in reserves, the Financial Times reported, after the rouble slipped to its lowest level since February 2007. | The central bank sold up to $4bn in reserves, the Financial Times reported, after the rouble slipped to its lowest level since February 2007. |