US markets drop on possible strike against Syria

31 Aug 2013 Evaluate

The US markets fell on Friday, with the Dow industrials and S&P 500 recording their worst month since May 2012, as Wall Street considered a possible US strike against Syria. Though US military strikes against Syria initially appeared less imminent after Britain’s prime minister failed to win parliamentary support for the action. On Friday, France signaled that it could step in as the main US ally in the possible retaliation for Syria’s alleged use of chemical weapons. On the economy front, a gauge of consumer sentiment declined in August from the highest level in six years, on grimmer views of current and coming economic conditions. The University of Michigan/Thomson Reuters consumer-sentiment index fell to 82.1 at the end of August from 85.1 in July, which was the highest level since 2007. Additionally, Americans barely increased spending in July, suggesting the US economy got off to a slow start in the third quarter. Consumer spending edged up 0.1% last month on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Commerce Department stated. The increase in spending matched the meager growth in personal income, which also rose a scant 0.1% in July.

Meanwhile, inflation as gauged by the PCE price index increased a scant 0.1%. The closely followed core rate, which excludes food and energy, also rose by 0.1%. Over the past year, the PCE index has risen 1.4%, well below the Federal Reserve’s preferred 2%-to-2.5% range for inflation. The core rate has moved up an even smaller 1.2%. In June, the increase in spending was raised a tick to 0.6%, based on new information collected by the government. Unless spending picks up in August and September, the economy could show softer growth in the third quarter. The street had been forecasting the US to expand around 2.5%, matching the second quarter’s pace. Separately, Chicago PMI, or the Chicago business barometer as it’s formally called, rose slightly in August. The Chicago PMI increased to 53.0 from 52.3 in July. Readings above 50.0 indicate expansion.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 30.64 points or 0.21 percent to 14,810.30, the S&P 500 was down 5.20 points or 0.32 percent to 1,632.97, while the Nasdaq dropped 30.43 points or 0.84 percent to 3,589.87.

Indian ADRs closed mostly in red on Friday; Tata Motors was down 0.51%, Dr. Reddy’s Lab was down 0.23% and ICICI Bank was down 0.17%. On the other hand, HDFC Bank was up 1.10% and Infosys was up by 0.16%. 

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