Global stocks tumbled the most since November and commodities fell as a report signaled the euro- area’s economy contracted more than forecast and concern grew that the U.S. Federal Reserve may slow the pace of stimulus. The euro weakened while German bunds rose with Treasuries.
The MSCI All-Country World Index of equities lost 1.3% at 3:30 p.m. in New York and emerging-market stocks erasing this year’s gains. The Standard & Poor’s Index fell 0.4% after the gauge sank 1.2% yesterday, the most in three months. The S&P GSCI Index of 24 raw materials retreated 1.5% to a one-month low as oil settled at its lowest price of the year. The euro declined 0.8% to $1.3183. U.S. 10-year yields slipped three basis points to 1.98% as Germany’s 10-year rate slipped eight basis points.
A report on the euro-area’s economy signaled the region is struggling to recover from a recession, while U.S. data showed jobless claims rose more than forecast and Philadelphia-area manufacturing unexpectedly shrank. Fed policy makers said the central bank should be ready to vary the pace of its $85 billion in monthly bond purchases, minutes from the group’s last meeting showed yesterday, spurring concern stimulus will be curtailed.
“We have a hangover from the minutes yesterday,” Joe Heider, Cleveland-based principal for Rehmann Financial Group, which oversees $2.2 billion in assets, said in a phone interview. “Today will be in the red. We’ll be negative as a result of this hangover. But I don’t think it’s a long-term trend.”
Five-Year High
The S&P 500 dropped from a five-year high yesterday after rising 7.3% since the beginning of the year through Feb. 19. Indexes of commodity, industrial and technology companies lost more than 0.6% to lead declines in eight of the 10 main industry groups in the S&P 500 today. Intel Corp., Caterpillar Inc., Home Depot Inc. and Bank of America Corp. lost more than 2% to lead the Dow Jones Industrial Average lower.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retailer, rose 2% as its dividend increase overshadowed a first-quarter profit forecast that trailed analysts’ estimates.
U.S. jobless claims increased by 20,000 to 362,000 in the week ended Feb. 16, the Labor Department reported today. The median forecast of 48 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for an increase to 355,000. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s general economic index dropped to minus 12.5, trailing the median estimate for a reading of 1.
Economic Data
The Conference Board’s index of U.S. leading indicators for January increased 0.2%, matching the median economist estimates. Another report from the National Association of Realtors showed sales of previously owned U.S. homes increased 0.4% in January, beating the median forecast for a 0.8% decrease.
The Stoxx Europe 600 Index sank 1.5%, the most in two weeks. The volume of shares changing hands in companies listed on benchmark gauges in the U.K., Germany and France was at least 15% greater than the average of the last 30 days, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
A composite gauge of euro-area services and manufacturing output dropped to 47.3 from 48.6 in January, London-based Markit Economics said today,
Industries most reliant on economic growth for revenue led losses, with Akzo Nobel NV, the world’s largest paintmaker, sinking 3% and BHP Billiton Ltd., the biggest mining company, sliding 4%.
Axa Slumps
Axa SA fell 3.1% after Europe’s second-largest insurer reported profit that missed analysts’ estimates. BAE Systems Plc rallied 4.1%, the most in five months, as the region’s largest arms maker announced a 1 billion-pound ($1.5 billion) buyback program and posted profit topped projections.
The euro fell against 13 of its 16 major counterparts, losing 1.2% versus the yen. The Dollar Index, which measures the U.S. currency against six trading partners, gained as much as 0.5% to 81.508, the highest level since Sept. 5.
Spanish 10-year bonds trimmed declines after the government sold more debt than targeted at an auction. The yield was up one basis points at 5.20% after climbing as much as six basis points to 5.24%. Spain sold 4.23 billion euros ($5.58 billion) of bonds, more than its maximum target of 4 billion euros.
Commodities
Nickel dropped 3.1% and copper fell 1.2% as 21 of 24 commodities in the S&P GSCI Index retreated. West Texas Intermediate oil fell 2.5% to $92.84 a barrel, the lowest settlement since Dec. 31.
The MSCI Emerging Markets Index sank 1.5% to the lowest since Dec. 27 on a closing basis. The Shanghai Composite Index retreated 3% and the CSI 300 tumbled 3.4%, the most since August 2011. China’s government told local authorities to curb real estate speculation, according to a statement yesterday. Benchmark gauges in Russia, India, South Africa, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Thailand lost at least 1%.
Emerging-market stocks may enter a “significant correction” after they trailed developed-nation shares this year, JPMorgan & Chase Co. said in a report dated yesterday. The MSCI gauge for developed countries has advanced 4.3% this year.
