US markets extend decline on weak economic data

22 Feb 2013 Evaluate

The US markets extended their slump on Thursday, with the S&P 500 going for its first two-day losing run this month, as a weak regional manufacturing index and uncertainty over US monetary moves hit sentiment. The markets fell sharply yesterday after the release of minutes from the last Federal Open Market Committee meeting revealed talk of scaling back economic stimulus by varying the rate of Fed asset purchases. However, James Bullard, the president of the St. Louis Fed, stated in a speech that the US economy is on the mend, and the jobless rate could fall to the level where the Federal Reserve may consider raising interest rates by June 2014. Separately, John Williams, the president of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank state that the Federal Reserve’s asset purchase program, known as quantitative easing, is providing a much needed boost to the economy and will be required well into the second half of the year.

On the economy front, weakening new orders hit manufacturing activity in February. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s barometer of regional manufacturing activity dropped further into negative territory this month, far below expectations, on declines in overall activity and new orders. The Philly Fed’s gauge of regional manufacturing activity fell to negative 12.5 in February from negative 5.8 in January. Meanwhile, Markit’s flash US manufacturing purchasing managers’ index ticked lower to a preliminary reading of 55.2 in February from a final January reading of 55.8, which was a nine-month peak.

Besides, the number of Americans who applied last week for new unemployment benefits rose sharply, though it remained at a level that suggests slow but steady improvement in the labor market. Initial jobless claims rose 20,000 to a seasonally adjusted 362,000 in the week ended February 16, the Labor Department stated. The increase may have been partly influenced by a federal holiday on Monday, full claims data for four states including California and Virginia were not completed on time and had to be estimated. On the other hand, sales of existing home sales nudged up 0.4% in January, according to a report released showing the housing recovery has steadied as real-estate agents lament a more-than-decade low of supply. The National Association of Realtors stated that sales increased to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.92 million in January from 4.90 million in December.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 46.92 points or 0.34 percent to 13,880.60, the Nasdaq dropped 32.92 points or 1.04 percent to 3,131.49 and the S&P 500 was down by 9.53 points or 0.63 percent to 1,502.42.

Indian ADRs closed in red on Thursday, HDFC Bank was down 1.04%, Tata Motors was down 0.76%, ICICI Bank was down 0.74%, Infosys was down by 0.73%, and Dr. Reddy’s Lab was down 0.54%.

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