Is that a perfect storm? (Kirsty Wigglesworth)

New York (AFP) – World stock markets and oil prices slumped Thursday in a “perfect storm” of Europe elections, fresh economic gloom, the China-US trade war, and beleaguered Prime Minister Theresa May’s decision to delay another key Brexit vote.

In New York, stocks extended their losses after Chinese officials berated Washington for “bullying” Beijing, suggesting the two sides were no nearer to a resolution in their trade war.

Meanwhile, a rally in bonds drove down yields and hit financial industry stocks, with the 10-year Treasury touching its lowest level in 19 months, and a sudden dip in oil prices sank shares in oil producers.

In yet another bad sign, the IHS Markit flash manufacturing survey fell to a nine-year low.

“For once, investors are not just reacting to tweets and ambient noise from the trade negotiations,” Gregori Volokhine, fund manager at Meeshaert Financial Services, said of the weakness in manufacturing.

“These fresh indicators are the first sign we may be approaching an inflection point in American growth.”

After paring some losses, all three major Wall Street indices fell more than one percent, putting the Dow Jones Industrial Average on track for a fifth straight week in the red.

In Europe, voting kicked off across the continent in a contest in which rising populist forces are hoping to make significant gains, threatening EU integration. 

Britain’s EU poll is an ironic twist for a country that decided almost three years ago to leave the bloc and whose leader had vowed to avoid the vote.

– Lower risk appetite –

Further dampening the mood was gloomy economic news: a survey showed German business confidence in May hit its lowest level in more than four years.

“The markets (are) caught in a perfect storm of UK political turmoil, US-China trade warmongering and European economic softness,” said Spreadex analyst Connor Campbell.

London’s FTSE 100 index lost 1.4 percent at the close after the government postponed a crucial Brexit vote following an outcry from hardline Brexiteers over concessions made by May — who faces intense speculation over her future.

The pound hit another four-month low as May faces being ousted over a revised plan to push through her Brexit agreement, which sparked the resignation of Cabinet member Andrea Leadsom.

Paris and Frankfurt also finished sharply lower.

“Risk appetite has clearly been pushed lower by the multitude of events today,” Rabobank analyst Jane Foley told AFP.

“In particular, fear of a tech war or even a cold war between the US and China is now receiving greater attention.”

Tensions between China and the US have increased after Donald Trump banned telecoms giant Huawei from the US market and prevented American firms from selling to it.

The move has led a number of companies around the world to cut back their business with the firm, including Google, Japan’s Panasonic and EE in Britain, among others.

In Asia, Mumbai’s Sensex soared more than two percent to break 40,000 for the first time ever as traders welcomed polls indicating business-friendly Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP was on course to win another majority.

– Key figures around 2100 GMT –

New York – Dow: DOWN 1.1 percent at 25,490.47 (close)

New York – S&P 500: DOWN 1.2 percent at 2,822.24 (close)

New York – Nasdaq: DOWN 1.6 percent 7,628.28 (close)

London – FTSE 100: DOWN 1.4 percent at 7,231.04 points (close)

Frankfurt – DAX 30: DOWN 1.8 percent at 11,952.41 (close)

Paris – CAC 40: DOWN 1.8 percent at 5,281.37 (close)

EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 1.8 percent at 3,327.20 (close) 

Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.6 percent at 21,151.14 (close)

Hong Kong – Hang Seng: DOWN 1.6 percent at 27,267.13 (close)

Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 1.4 percent at 2,852.52 (close)

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2660 from $1.2706 at 2100 GMT

Euro/pound: UP at 88.32 pence from 87.84 pence

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1182 from $1.1161

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 109.59 yen from 110.50 yen 

Oil – Brent Crude: DOWN $3.23 at $67.76 per barrel

Oil – West Texas Intermediate: DOWN $3.51 at $57.91

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Disclaimer: Validity of the above story is for 7 Days from original date of publishing. Source: AFP.