US markets slip after Malaysian Airlines crash in Ukraine

18 Jul 2014 Evaluate

The US markets fell sharply on Thursday, as selling emerged after a Malaysia Airlines jet crashed near the Ukraine-Russia border. Investors are concerned that US could become more closely intertwined in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. On the economy front, the number of people who applied for regular state unemployment-insurance benefits in the week that ended July 12 fell by 3,000 to 302,000 - the lowest level in nine weeks - signaling that employers are still laying off few workers. The average of new claims over the past month declined by 3,000 to 309,000 - the lowest level since June 2007. The continuing claims in the week that ended July 5 dropped by 79,000 to a seasonally adjusted 2.51 million - the lowest level since June 2007. Continuing claims reflect the number of people already receiving benefits. Manufacturers in the Philadelphia region expanded in July at the fastest pace in more than three years, suggesting continued strength among companies that make goods ranging from grocery snacks to appliances to heavy machinery. The Philadelphia Federal Reserve’s business condition index jumped to 23.9 this month from 17.8 in June, marking the highest level since March 2011. And the index for new orders and goods shipped to customers both surged to 10-year peaks.

However, the construction on new US homes tumbled 9.3% in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 893,000, the slowest pace in nine months, led by drops for single-family homes and apartments. Besides, the annual pace of permits, an indicator of future demand, fell 4.2% to 963,000 in June, led by apartments. In a spot of good news, permits for single-family homes rose 2.6% to a rate of 631,000, the fastest pace in seven months.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 161.39 points or 0.94 percent to 16,976.81, Nasdaq slipped 62.52 points or 1.41 percent to 4,363.45, while the S&P 500 dropped 23.45 points or 1.18 percent at 1,958.12.

Indian ADRs closed in red on Thursday; Infosys was down by 1.61%, ICICI Bank was down by 1.15%, HDFC Bank was down 0.79%, Wipro was down 0.34% and Tata Motors was down 0.05%.

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