U.S. stocks decline amid China tension, jobs data
U.S. stocks fell as rising trade tension between America and China added to concern about the pace of recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Crude oil rebounded from an earlier swoon and gold declined.
The S&P 500 declined 0.8%, with signs mounting that President Donald Trump will make his tough-on-China stance a key element of his reelection bid. The energy, technology and utilities sectors led the losses. After rallying as much as 32% from its March bottom, the index failed to hold at its average price over the past 100 days, a key technical level it hasn't closed above since February. Trade tension with China contributed to market weakness in 2019 before a deal was reached.
"We're seeing trade rhetoric and tensions between the U.S. and China heat up," said Chris Gaffney, president of world markets at TIAA Bank. "It could be something that creates a hurdle for the recovery."
Stocks hit the lows of the day after China responded to overnight accusations from Trump, warning that it will safeguard its sovereignty, security and interests, and threatened countermeasures. Earlier, a report showed another 2.44 million Americans claiming jobless benefits.
Markets were already on the back foot after the Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill that could bar some Chinese companies from listing on U.S. exchanges. Trump stoked tensions by tweeting criticism of Xi Jinping's leadership, days before the biggest Chinese political gathering of the year.
The Stoxx Europe 600 Index fell, with nearly all 19 sector groups in the red. Deutsche Lufthansa AG shares bucked the trend after the carrier said it was close to a multibillion-euro bailout deal from the German government.
Concern over the stress between the U.S. and China and global coronavirus cases reaching 5 million are vying for investor attention with optimism over reopening economies and progress on thwarting the pandemic. The U.S. legislation could lead to Chinese mega-companies such as Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Baidu Inc. being barred from exchanges.
"Markets may be pricing in far too much complacency as the U.S.-China 'phase one' trade deal could be at risk," said Stephen Innes, chief global market strategist at AxiCorp. "The pandemic and resulting acute economic downturn have made China's trade commitment to the U.S. much more challenging to fulfill."
Overseas listings of Hong Kong shares fell as Chinese authorities prepared to pass national security measures, threatening to reignite violent protests in the city. The iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF, the biggest listed exchange-traded fund, fell 3.7% in New York, the biggest drop since the global market volatility two months ago. Hang Seng Index futures for May delivery were off 1.6%.
The fresh jobless data has once again underscored the economic hit from the virus. The latest jump in claimants takes the number of newly unemployed since the crisis began nine weeks ago to almost 40 million.
These are some of the main moves in markets:
Stocks
The S&P 500 Index dipped 0.8% to 2,948.51 as of 4 p.m. EDT.
The Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.4% to 24,474.12.
The Nasdaq Composite Index declined 1% to 9,284.88, the largest fall in more than a week.
The MSCI All-Country World Index fell 0.8% to 494.07, the biggest fall in more than a week.
Currencies
The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index increased 0.2% to 1,242.61.
The Japanese yen was little changed at 107.57 per dollar.
The euro declined 0.3% to $1.0949, the first retreat in a week and the largest decrease in more than a week.
Bonds
The yield on two-year Treasurys advanced less than one basis point to 0.17%.
The yield on 10-year Treasurys decreased one basis point to 0.67%.
Germany's 10-year yield dipped three basis points to -0.50%, the biggest dip in two weeks.
Commodities
West Texas Intermediate crude climbed 1.3% to $33.94 a barrel, hitting the highest in 10 weeks with its sixth straight advance.
Gold depreciated 1.2% to $1,726.33 an ounce, the weakest in more than a week on the biggest tumble in three weeks.