Traders talk in front of the share price index board at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The DAX 30 ended down 3.27% at 10,942.61 points yesterday.
AFP/London
European stock markets closed lower yesterday, mirroring losses across Asia after China further devalued its currency and reported more poor economic data.
Shares in mining companies, carmakers and luxury goods groups, which rely heavily on Chinese demand, fell sharply for a second day.
London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index ended the session 1.40% lower to stand at 6,571.19 points.
Frankfurt’s DAX 30 finished 3.27% down at 10,942.61 points, while the CAC 40 in Paris dropped 3.40% at 4,925.43 compared with Tuesday’s close.
In foreign exchange, the euro rose to $1.1194 from $1.1042 late in New York on Tuesday.
“Once again, the investor sentiment has been hit hard by events happening in China,” said Fawad Razaqzada, analyst at investment group Forex.com.
“The market has reacted to the Chinese data and... moves to devalue its currency are a sign that the world’s second largest economy is struggling.”
Connor Campbell, a London analyst for Spreadex, called China “the new market bogeyman” responsible for the stock “sell-off (intensifying) as investors flee China-fearing markets.”
Taking a longer view, however, Razaqzada noted that “essentially, a weaker yuan should help to support exports and hopefully revive growth.”
Beijing’s surprise devaluation of the yuan by 1.86% on Tuesday had already sent ripples through global financial markets, prompting a wave of selling in equities and commodities and buffeting Asia-Pacific currencies.
Asian stock markets tumbled yesterday as the People’s Bank of China again reduced the value of the yuan against the greenback, trimming the reference rate by 1.62%.
Given its consecutive-day yuan interventions, Campbell said continued market turmoil could be expected “if the People’s Bank of China scores a hat trick of devaluations” with another announcement Thursday.
“Some semblance of clarity could arise following a PBoC press conference today, though the markets likely shouldn’t get their hopes up,” he warned.
Investor nerves were further rattled yesterday when three key indicators released by China all came in below expectations.
Aside from China, the focus was firmly on Greece, with Athens and its creditors set to put the finishing touches on a third international bailout agreement aimed at saving the eurozone nation’s stricken economy from collapse.
The 400-page text has already been submitted to the Greek parliament for a crucial vote on ratifying the deal, which sets out the fiscal and other policy measures that Athens must adopt in exchange for the €85bn ($94bn) lifeline.
EU officials said Eurogroup finance ministers will meet in Brussels on Friday to review the agreement with Greece in an effort to finalise the deal by August 20, when Athens must repay some 3.4bn euros to the European Central Bank.
Earlier Wednesday, EU sources said Greece’s economy will tumble back into deep recession this year and next.
The Greek economy, which only crawled out of a six-year recession in 2014, will shrink 2.3% in 2015 and another 1.3% in 2016, the sources said, as the government pushes through a bailout aimed at helping Athens stay in the eurozone.
Athens’ main stocks index ended the day 1.93% lower at 691.40 points.
US stocks similarly slumped yesterday, retreating for a second straight day on concerns about China.
In trade in New York shortly after noon, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood 1.41% lower at 17,158.05 points.
