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| Stock markets slide as market sell-off continues | Stock markets slide as market sell-off continues |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Stock markets in the US and Europe plunged on Thursday as fears about US-China trade tensions and global growth continued to mount. | |
| All three main Wall Street indexes fell more than 2%, though they regained some ground later in the session. | |
| In London the FTSE 100 tumbled 3.2%, or more than 200 points, to close around 6,700 - its lowest level in two years. | |
| Falls on European markets were even sharper, with Paris and Frankfurt both shedding almost 3.5%. | |
| Oil prices also sank, with Brent crude more than 3% lower. | |
| Analysts said the arrest of Chinese telecoms giant Huawei's chief financial officer in Canada had revived worries over the US's trade war with China. | Analysts said the arrest of Chinese telecoms giant Huawei's chief financial officer in Canada had revived worries over the US's trade war with China. |
| The renewed falls on Wall Street came as trading resumed after Wednesday's stock market closure to mark the funeral of former President George HW Bush. | The renewed falls on Wall Street came as trading resumed after Wednesday's stock market closure to mark the funeral of former President George HW Bush. |
| The latest downturn quashed hopes that the markets might return to health after losses on Tuesday, when the Dow Jones index finished down 3%. | The latest downturn quashed hopes that the markets might return to health after losses on Tuesday, when the Dow Jones index finished down 3%. |
| On Thursday, concerns about oil prices, trade tensions and slowing growth sparked steep losses at financial, energy and materials companies in the US. | On Thursday, concerns about oil prices, trade tensions and slowing growth sparked steep losses at financial, energy and materials companies in the US. |
| Worst-hit sectors on the FTSE 100 included miners, oil companies, carmakers and tech stocks, with mining firms Antofagasta and Glencore among the biggest losers. | Worst-hit sectors on the FTSE 100 included miners, oil companies, carmakers and tech stocks, with mining firms Antofagasta and Glencore among the biggest losers. |
| Earlier, Asian markets had also fallen, with Tokyo's Nikkei index shedding 1.9% and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong down 2.5%. | Earlier, Asian markets had also fallen, with Tokyo's Nikkei index shedding 1.9% and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong down 2.5%. |
| "Investors are back in risk-off mode, with markets falling in the UK, mainland Europe and across Asia," said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell. | "Investors are back in risk-off mode, with markets falling in the UK, mainland Europe and across Asia," said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell. |
| "Markets are worried by numerous things: global economic growth, rising interest rates and the US-China trade war." | "Markets are worried by numerous things: global economic growth, rising interest rates and the US-China trade war." |
| Norman Villamin, chief investment officer at Switzerland's Union Bancaire Privée, said the US-China clash represented much more than just a tussle over trade. | Norman Villamin, chief investment officer at Switzerland's Union Bancaire Privée, said the US-China clash represented much more than just a tussle over trade. |
| "It's not about trade - it's about who is going to be the economic and political leader of the world in 10 to 20 years from now. It's about tech, and who is going to dominate that landscape," he said. | "It's not about trade - it's about who is going to be the economic and political leader of the world in 10 to 20 years from now. It's about tech, and who is going to dominate that landscape," he said. |
| Markets 'spooked' | Markets 'spooked' |
| Laith Khalaf, senior analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: "The arrest of Huawei's CFO has reignited fears that trade reconciliation between the US and China may not be forthcoming any time soon. | Laith Khalaf, senior analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: "The arrest of Huawei's CFO has reignited fears that trade reconciliation between the US and China may not be forthcoming any time soon. |
| "The market is spooked by the damage a continuing trade war could do to global economic prospects, and that's hitting share prices in the UK and overseas. | "The market is spooked by the damage a continuing trade war could do to global economic prospects, and that's hitting share prices in the UK and overseas. |
| He added that "the valuation on the UK stock market looks close to its historical average, which means it's neither Black Friday cheap nor dotcom expensive". | He added that "the valuation on the UK stock market looks close to its historical average, which means it's neither Black Friday cheap nor dotcom expensive". |
| "However, it's unlikely to pick up significantly until there's greater clarity on the UK's withdrawal from the EU. Meanwhile, US trade policy also continues to undermine confidence in global markets." | "However, it's unlikely to pick up significantly until there's greater clarity on the UK's withdrawal from the EU. Meanwhile, US trade policy also continues to undermine confidence in global markets." |
| Analysts are worried a series of new tariffs will slow global trade. | Analysts are worried a series of new tariffs will slow global trade. |
| In October, the US trade deficit - which measures the difference between imports and exports of goods and services - increased to $55.5bn, the highest level in a decade. | In October, the US trade deficit - which measures the difference between imports and exports of goods and services - increased to $55.5bn, the highest level in a decade. |
| The record came amid a decline in exports, as major markets including China, the European Union and Mexico purchased fewer US products. | The record came amid a decline in exports, as major markets including China, the European Union and Mexico purchased fewer US products. |
| All three markets have hit US goods with new import duties in retaliation for tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. | All three markets have hit US goods with new import duties in retaliation for tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. |
| Oil prices fell as traders waited for news from the meeting of Opec oil-producing nations in Vienna, with some member states keen to agree on a production cut to drive up prices. | Oil prices fell as traders waited for news from the meeting of Opec oil-producing nations in Vienna, with some member states keen to agree on a production cut to drive up prices. |
| Members tentatively agreed to cut output but were waiting for a commitment from Russia, which is not in the cartel, before making any firm decisions, according to insiders. | Members tentatively agreed to cut output but were waiting for a commitment from Russia, which is not in the cartel, before making any firm decisions, according to insiders. |
| "We're looking for a sufficient cut to balance the market, equally distributed between countries," said Saudi Arabia's oil minister, Khalid al-Falih, before the meeting. | "We're looking for a sufficient cut to balance the market, equally distributed between countries," said Saudi Arabia's oil minister, Khalid al-Falih, before the meeting. |