US markets plunge on concern of European fallout on global economy

15 Dec 2011 Evaluate

The US markets extended their decline for the third session on Wednesday, as investors remained worried about the toll of Europe on global economy. Investors were also reacting to central bank and political leader comments that have lowered the likelihood of more government stimulus soon. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Republican senators that Fed plans no additional aid to European banks amid the region’s sovereign debt crisis. At the same time, Bernanke said that obviously what happens in Europe could affect US economy.

Given recent comments by the US Federal Reserve and the ECB indicating a lack of new liquidity measures, investors see limited upside in the market. Besides, the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index of mortgage application activity in the US rose 4.1% in the week ended December 9. The seasonally adjusted index of refinancing applications surged 9.3%. However, the measure of loan requests for home purchases slumped 8.2%, even as interest rates fell to their lowest in 2011.

In Europe, German Chancellor Merkel reiterated opposition to euro bonds, while European Central Bank council member Jens Weidmann stated that policy makers are becoming more skeptical that the ECB’s debt purchases are working. Merkel further stated there’s no looking back after last week’s European summit deal on stricter budget controls, with the path to fiscal union in the euro region now irreversible.

The Dow Jones industrial average lost 131.46 points, or 1.10 percent, to 11,823.50. The Standard and Poor’s 500 closed lower by 13.91 points, or 1.13 percent, to 1,211.82, while the Nasdaq composite lost 39.96 points, or 1.55 percent, to 2,539.31.

The Indian ADRs made a mixed closing on Wednesday, Infosys Technologies was down by 1.83%, HDFC Bank was down by 0.84%, ICICI Bank was down by 0.68% and Dr. Reddys Lab down by 0.44%. On the flip side, Tata Communications was up by 0.11%.

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