Global stock markets had a lacklustre session yesterday as investors retrenched in the face of an intensifying trade war between the US and China.
Key eurozone equity markets ended the day flat to slightly higher, but London lost ground as the pound strengthened against the euro, potentially undermining the competitiveness of British multinationals.
London’s FTSE 100 closed 0.5% down at 7,741.77 points, Frankfurt’s DAX 30 ended 0.3% up at 12,676.11 points and Paris’ CAC 40 finished flat at 5,502.25 points. The EURO STOXX 50 also closed flat at 3,494.13 points.
On Wall Street the Dow index was a touch weaker approaching midday in New York.
Beijing said on Wednesday it would impose 25% tariffs on $16bn of US goods from August 23, retaliating in kind to a warning from US officials the day before and escalating a crisis that pits the world’s top two economies against each other.
“Investors are still wondering how quickly, if at all, the tariffs so far will start to affect companies and then economies,” IG analyst Chris Beauchamp told AFP. “We know the theory, but the actual developments will take time to become clear.”
“It is also not yet clear how far (the trade war) will run — until the mid-term (US elections in November)? Or further until (President Donald Trump) can really get some key concessions from China,” pondered Beauchamp.
“Market resilience over the past few weeks suggests investors have calmed down for the time being, at least where US equities are concerned.”
Asian stocks largely brushed off China’s tit-for-tat response, with most markets rising yesterday.
The Russian rouble, meanwhile, tumbled after Washington slapped Russia with new sanctions over Moscow’s alleged involvement in a nerve agent attack in Britain.
The Kremlin slammed as “unacceptable” the fresh US sanctions which analysts said probably had little connection with the trade wars Washington is waging with key trade partners.
“I don’t think the Russia move is another front in the (trade) war,” said Beauchamp, “since Russia is the United States’ 23rd largest partner, and thus not very high on the list”.
Among other emerging market currencies the Turkish lira hit new lows against the dollar as high-level talks between Ankara and Washington to defuse tensions produced no apparent breakthrough.
The battered lira has lost over 40% of its value this year.


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