AFP, Hong Kong :
Fresh political turbulence in Washington and renewed fears over US-China relations pushed Asian markets lower Friday, as a global slump sparked by unease over Fed policy showed no signs of easing.
The resignation of US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis – seen as a moderating force on an often impulsive president – and the looming threat of a federal government shutdown alarmed investors as concern grows over weakening global growth.
US stocks endured a torrid session, the latest losses in a bruising December that has set up Wall Street for its worst year since the 2007 financial crisis, with the Nasdaq now almost 20 percent off its 2018 peak.
Shares turned sharply lower after President Donald Trump hardened his demand Congress fund a US-Mexico border wall, plunging Washington into chaos and leaving the US government on the verge of a Christmas shutdown with less than 24 hours before a midnight Friday deadline to reach agreement. Rising tensions between the world’s two largest economies also unnerved markets, with China hitting back at the US after the Justice Department indicted two alleged Chinese hackers accused of having ties to Beijing’s security services.
US officials said the indictment showed President Xi Jinping had not fulfilled his pledge to stop cybercrime, but it drew a furious response from Beijing, which accused Washington of “fabricating facts”.
The row erupted as the two sides prepare for talks next month to resolve their trade conflict.
“A potential US government shutdown and US accusations of Chinese hacking fuelled existing market concerns about economic growth,” said Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets and Stockbroking.
Crude added to anxiety on financial markets, with both WTI and Brent paring gains earlier Friday.
Analysts said OPEC moves to cut production would likely have little effect.
“There’s nothing OPEC can do about that predicament,” Sam Margolin, a Wolfe Research LLC analyst, said.
Fresh political turbulence in Washington and renewed fears over US-China relations pushed Asian markets lower Friday, as a global slump sparked by unease over Fed policy showed no signs of easing.
The resignation of US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis – seen as a moderating force on an often impulsive president – and the looming threat of a federal government shutdown alarmed investors as concern grows over weakening global growth.
US stocks endured a torrid session, the latest losses in a bruising December that has set up Wall Street for its worst year since the 2007 financial crisis, with the Nasdaq now almost 20 percent off its 2018 peak.
Shares turned sharply lower after President Donald Trump hardened his demand Congress fund a US-Mexico border wall, plunging Washington into chaos and leaving the US government on the verge of a Christmas shutdown with less than 24 hours before a midnight Friday deadline to reach agreement. Rising tensions between the world’s two largest economies also unnerved markets, with China hitting back at the US after the Justice Department indicted two alleged Chinese hackers accused of having ties to Beijing’s security services.
US officials said the indictment showed President Xi Jinping had not fulfilled his pledge to stop cybercrime, but it drew a furious response from Beijing, which accused Washington of “fabricating facts”.
The row erupted as the two sides prepare for talks next month to resolve their trade conflict.
“A potential US government shutdown and US accusations of Chinese hacking fuelled existing market concerns about economic growth,” said Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets and Stockbroking.
Crude added to anxiety on financial markets, with both WTI and Brent paring gains earlier Friday.
Analysts said OPEC moves to cut production would likely have little effect.
“There’s nothing OPEC can do about that predicament,” Sam Margolin, a Wolfe Research LLC analyst, said.
