Global stocks weighed by Apple demand woes\, trade tensions

Global stocks weighed by Apple demand woes, trade tensions

Reuters  |  NEW YORK 

By April Joyner

Concerns about slowing economic growth also pushed down the dollar.

The U.S. benchmark stock index dropped as much as 2 percent following a decline in shares of Apple and its suppliers. reported Apple had cut production orders in recent weeks for the models it launched in September.

Renewed tensions between and the also weighed. At an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative meeting in over the weekend, the issue prevented leaders from agreeing on a communique, the first time such an impasse had occurred in the group's history.

U.S. Vice said in a blunt speech on Saturday that there would be no end to U.S. tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese goods until changed its ways.

"We're just in an uncertain period for the economy, largely because of trade and trade issues," said Tim Ghriskey, at Inverness in "If (U.S. President) Trump came out and said he was very optimistic about the meeting, or if (Chinese President) Xi came out and said that, this market would turn on a dime."

The <.DJI> fell 405.46 points, or 1.6 percent, to 25,007.76, the <.SPX> lost 42.58 points, or 1.56 percent, to 2,693.69 and the <.IXIC> dropped 196.26 points, or 2.71 percent, to 7,051.61.

MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe <.MIWD00000PUS> shed 0.89 percent.

Mixed signals regarding the Federal Reserve's course of rate hikes in the face of a potential economic slowdown has also weighed on markets, investors said.

Federal Reserve policymakers have recently raised concern about a potential global slowdown, leading some market watchers to suspect the tightening cycle may not have much further to run.

Data released on Monday by the showed weakening sentiment in the U.S. housing market, adding to concerns over economic growth.

Still, Fed stated that is moving ahead with its plans for gradual rate hikes as it marches towards a more normal policy stance.

Reflecting growth concerns and the possibility that the Fed's tightening cycle may soon end, the dollar dropped to a two-week low on Monday. The dollar index <.DXY> fell 0.28 percent.

In similar fashion, the 10-year yield hit its lowest level in more than a month. Benchmark 10-year notes last rose 4/32 in price to yield 3.0592 percent, from 3.074 percent late on Friday.

In Europe, shares helped push the 0.7 percent lower as Carlos Ghosn, the of Renault and <7201.T>, was arrested for alleged financial misconduct.

Gold found support from the drop in the dollar and added 0.1 percent to $1,223.08 an ounce.

edged up in choppy trade as they found support from a reported drawdown of U.S. inventories, potential sanctions on and possible production cuts. [O/R]

Brent crude futures settled at $66.79 a barrel, up 3 cents. U.S. crude futures settled at $56.76 a barrel, up 30 cents.

(Reporting by April Joyner; Additional reporting by in London; Editing by and Chizu Nomiyama)

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Tue, November 20 2018. 01:44 IST