Stocks struggle as tech remains fragile, pound slides
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[September 08, 2020] By
Danilo Masoni
MILAN (Reuters) - World shares struggled on
Tuesday as doubts about a recovery in tech stocks lingered after last
week's rout, while the dollar awaited policy signals from the European
Central Bank and the pound remained hostage to Brexit jitters.
Fresh tensions between Washington and Beijing after U.S. President
Donald Trump again raised the idea of decoupling the U.S. and Chinese
economies also came into focus but appeared to have little impact.
"I think the market will shrug this off as electioneering but may find
the lining up of technology stock sellers harder to process as the U.S.
market returns from a holiday yesterday," said Chris Bailey, European
Strategist at Raymond James.
World shares <.MIWD00000PUS> fell 0.2% by 1126 GMT following gains in
Asia overnight and a negative session in Europe, where fresh pressure on
tech stocks dragged the STOXX 600 <.STOXX> benchmark down 1.2% following
strong gains on Monday.
Futures on the tech-heavy Nasdaq <NQcv1> fell 2.5% after having lost
more than 6% late last week, as trading in New York resumed after the
Labor Day holiday break. They remained, however, above Friday's intraday
lows.
Futures on the broader S&P 500 <EScv1> index also fell, by 0.7%,
reversing gains made in Asian hours.
While many market players were unable to pinpoint a single trigger for
the Nasdaq's sudden plunge, valuations have been stretched given its 75%
gain from a bottom hit in March with big bets on the option market
possibly creating extra turbulence.
"Whatever the reason... tech and growth investors have to decide whether
this is a chance to buy on the dips - yet again - or a call to lock in
what could be substantial profits," said AJ Bell Investment Director
Russ Mould.
Trading in Europe and indications from U.S. futures marked a stark
contrast to activity earlier in Asia.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan
<.MIAPJ0000PUS> rose 0.4% and Japan's Nikkei advanced 0.8% <.N225>.
China's blue-chip index <.CSI300> and Hong Kong's Hang Seng <.HSI>
meanwhile rose 0.5% and 0.2% respectively, both erasing early losses
made after Trump's remarks.
The newly launched Hang Seng tech index <.HSTECH>, however, fell 1.4%,
underscoring the ongoing fragility of global tech.
Trump's remarks followed the possible U.S. blacklisting of China's
largest chip maker, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC),
which has hit many Chinese tech firms listed onshore and offshore.
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A man wearing protective face mask, following an outbreak of the
coronavirus disease (COVID-19), walks in front of a stock quotation
board outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan, March 10, 2020. REUTERS/Stoyan
Nenov/File Photo
Graphic: Bearish sterling bets -
https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/
mkt/gjnpwazzbpw/reversals.PNG
DOLLAR EDGES UP, POUND SINKS
In foreign exchange markets, the dollar rose slightly against a basket of
currencies <=USD> at 93.291 and stood up against the euro <EUR=EBS> at $1.1800
with the main focus on Thursday's ECB policy meeting.
Most analysts do not expect a change in the central bank's policy stance but are
looking at its inflation forecasts and whether an accommodative tone could help
cool down the surge in the bloc's single currency.
"I think the ECB's message will be clearly dovish, given the latest numbers on
inflation and the recent rally in the euro," said Pasquale Diana, Senior Macro
Economist at investment manager AcomeA SGR.
Sterling was a big mover. It fell to a four-week low against the dollar on
ongoing concerns that Britain was preparing to override the Brexit divorce deal
it signed in January, as EU talks started.
Concerns mounted on Tuesday after the Financial Times reported that the head of
the British government's legal department had quit over the suggestions that
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was threatening to override the divorce deal.
The pound slipped 0.9% to $1.3048 <GBP=> while against the euro <EURGBP=> it
touched 0.90 pence, its lowest since Aug. 20. Gold prices softened on Tuesday,
weighed on by a stronger dollar, although doubts over the economic recovery from
the COVID-19 slump limited losses. Spot gold <XAU=> fell 0.6% to $1,916.40 per
ounce.
Oil fell below $41 a barrel, its fifth session of decline, pressured by concerns
that a recovery in demand could weaken as coronavirus infections flare up around
the world.
Brent crude <LCOc1> fell 3.2% to $40.60 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas
Intermediate (WTI) crude <CLc1> dropped 5.4% to $37.62.
The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield stood at 0.6902% <US10YT=RR>, off a five-month
low of 0.504% touched in August.
(Additional reporting by Hideyuki Sano in TOKYO and Julie Zhu in HONG KONG;
Editing by Catherine Evans and Susan Fenton)
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