US markets slip on weak manufacturing data

02 Apr 2013 Evaluate

The US markets closed lower on Monday, with two of the benchmark indices retreating from record highs, after a closely watched manufacturing gauge unexpectedly declined in March. The pace of expansion in the US manufacturing sector slowed sharply in March to the lowest level since December. The Institute for Supply Management index fell to 51.3% from 54.2% in February. While, the final reading of Markit’s US manufacturing purchasing managers’ index was 54.6 in March, down from the flash reading of 54.9 but above February’s 54.3. Separately, construction spending in February grew 1.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $885.1 billion. The 1.2% growth was faster than the 1% forecast and spending was 7.9% stronger than February 2012.

Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke admitted the Fed’s tactics to re-inflate global economies since 1998 has hurt senior citizens and the middle class. Ben Bernanke admitted that at first he thought by bailing out failed financial institutions the economy would stabilize, but he admitted all it did was stabilize stock prices for the rich, while destroying the lives of those living on fixed incomes. Besides, the Federal Reserve later this month will ask about 13,000 people across the country to participate in its Survey of Consumer Finances, a study of household finances it conducts every three years. The survey provides the central bank with a snapshot of the economic condition of all types of American families – from the houses and cars they own to how much they borrow.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 5.69 points or 0.04 percent to 14,572.80, the S&P 500 slipped 7.02 points or 0.45 percent to 1,562.17 and the Nasdaq dropped 28.35 points or 0.87 percent to 3,239.17.

The Indian ADRs closed mostly in red on Monday, ICICI Bank was down 1.02%, Infosys was down 0.62%, Tata Motors was down 0.57% and Sterlite Industries was down 0.37%. On the other hand, Dr. Reddy’s Lab was up 0.63%.

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