US-China trade face-off a drag on markets - 8.5.2019

US stocks fall for second day

US stock market retreat deepened on Tuesday after US Trade Representative Lighthizer confirmation Monday that Washington will increase tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods early Friday following President Trump’s Sunday tweet. The S&P 500 lost 1.7% to 2884.05. Dow Jones industrial fell 1.8% to 25965.09. The Nasdaq dropped 2% to 7963.76. The dollar ended little changed as the number of job openings in the US rose to above expected 7.5 million in March. The live dollar index data show the ICE US Dollar index, a measure of the dollar’s strength against a basket of six rival currencies, was unchanged at 97.547 but is lower currently. Futures on US stock indexes point to higher openings today.

FTSE 100 underperforms European indexes

European stocks extended losses on Tuesday with weak euro zone economic data weighing on investor confidence undermined by tension in US-China trade talks. EUR/USD joined GBP/USD’s slide with euro higher but Pound lower currently. The Stoxx Europe 600 ended 1.5% lower led by bank shares. The German DAX 30 lost 1.58% to 12092.74, France’s CAC 40 fell 1.6%. UK’s FTSE 100 slumped 1.63% to 7260.47.

Nikkei leads Asian Index losses

Asian stock indices renewed their retreat today on rising US-China trade talks uncertainty. Nikkei lost 1.5% to 21602.59 as yen climb against the dollar continued. Chinese stocks turned lower despite reports China’s Vice Premier Liu He will lead a delegation to continue trade talks in Washington on Thursday and Friday: the Shanghai Composite Index is down 1.2% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index is 1.3% lower. Australia’s All Ordinaries Index pulled back 0.4% as Australian dollar’s climb against the greenback continued.

Brent up

Brent futures prices are edging higher today. The American Petroleum Institute late Tuesday report indicated US crude inventories rose by 2.8 million barrels last week while gasoline inventories fell by 2.8 million. Prices ended lower yesterday. July Brent fell 1.9% to $69.88 a barrel on Tuesday. Today at 16:30 CET the Energy Information Administration will release US Crude Oil Inventories.