U.S. Index Futures Fall, Oil Drops on Growth Concern
(Corrects size of S&P 500’s four-week drop in fifth paragraph.)
U.S. stock futures slid, indicating the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index may extend its largest four-week losing streak since 2009, and oil sank on speculation the global economy is stalling. The yen and Swiss franc weakened on concern Japan and Switzerland will weaken their currencies.
S&P 500 Index futures expiring in September declined 0.5 percent as of 8:08 a.m. in Tokyo. Nikkei 225 Stock Average futures slipped 0.2 percent in Chicago. Crude lost 0.7 percent in New York. Gold increased 0.6 percent, a sixth day of gains, and silver climbed 1.8 percent. The yen slid 0.4 percent to 76.85 per dollar after rallying last week to a post-World War II record and the franc lost 0.3 percent against the U.S. currency.
The four-week rout has wiped out more than $8 trillion in global equity values and dragged the MSCI All-Country World Index down 19 percent from its May 2 high. Central bankers from around the world will meet in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, this week amid record-low yields on U.S. Treasuries that show traders expect Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke to signal the central bank will begin a third-round of asset purchases to boost the faltering economic recovery.
“A lot of the traders and investors will wait to see what comes out of the Fed meeting in Wyoming this weekend,” Don Williams, chief investment officer at Platypus Asset Management Ltd. in Sydney, said in a Bloomberg Television interview. “We’ve had three very violent weeks so it’s more likely that we’ll get a consolidation week this week.”
The S&P 500 fell 1.5 percent to 1,123.53 on Aug. 19, completing a four-week, 16 percent losing streak. A closing level of 1,090.88 would bring the index to a 20 percent decline since April 29, meeting the common definition of a bear market.
To contact the reporter on this story: Shiyin Chen in Singapore at schen37@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Richard Dobson at rdobson4@bloomberg.net.
Stocks Plunge as 10-Year Yield Falls to Record Low
Richard Drew/AP
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Aug. 18, 2011.
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Aug. 18, 2011. Photographer: Richard Drew/AP
Aug. 18 (Bloomberg) -- James Paulsen, chief investment strategist at Minneapolis-based Wells Capital Management, talks about the U.S. economy, the stock market and investment strategy. Paulsen, speaking with Erik Schatzker and Maryam Nemazee on Bloomberg Television's "InsideTrack," also discusses Federal Reserve monetary policy. (Source: Bloomberg)
Aug. 22 (Bloomberg) -- Don Williams, chief investment officer at Platypus Asset Management Ltd. in Sydney, talks about the outlook for equities. Williams also discuses Federal Reserve monetary policy. He speaks with Susan Li on Bloomberg Television's "First Up." (Source: Bloomberg)
U.S. Stocks Down
Paul Taggart/Bloomberg
A trader takes a break outside the New York Stock Exchange on Aug. 18, 2011.
A trader takes a break outside the New York Stock Exchange on Aug. 18, 2011. Photographer: Paul Taggart/Bloomberg
Stocks Plunge as 10-Year Yield Falls to Record Low
Hannelore Foerster/Bloomberg
Germany’s DAX Index plunged 6.3 percent, the most since 2008.
Germany’s DAX Index plunged 6.3 percent, the most since 2008. Photographer: Hannelore Foerster/Bloomberg
Stocks Plunge as 10-Year Yield Falls to Record Low
Paul Taggart/Bloomberg
Traders take a break from the busy trading floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York on Aug. 18, 2011.
Traders take a break from the busy trading floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York on Aug. 18, 2011. Photographer: Paul Taggart/Bloomberg
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