Russell 2000 and Nasdaq Drop 2% After U.S. Economic Slowdown Worries Resurface

Alexander Garcia
03 Sep, 2024
Miami

Stocks on Wall Street faced renewed selling pressure, and the recovery rally over the last three weeks faded amid the resurfacing of fears of an economic slowdown. 

On Wall Street, market indexes faced sharp selloffs on the first trading day of September, following the volatile August. 

The S&P 500 index and the Nasdaq Composite dropped between 1% and 2% after artificial intelligence-linked stocks declined as investors walked from high-flying tech stocks. 

The leading semiconductor designers and makers dropped more than 5%, and investors sold stocks of Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices, Qualcomm, TSMC, and KLA Corp. 

Today's market selloff was broad-based, and stocks in technology, cyclical sector, industrial, and oil complex dropped between 2% and 6%. 

Market sentiment recovered from a sharp decline in early August after positive updates on the labor market, inflation, and GDP growth bolstered market sentiment. 

Over the last three weeks, the improving sentiment on Wall Street powered global market advance, lifting market indexes in Europe, China, and Japan. 

Investor confidence improved further after Fed Chair Jerome Powell signaled the possibility of monetary policy adjustment, supporting the case for a lower interest rate, but fell short of announcing the amount and timing of the possible rate cut. 

Historically, September is a tough month for investors, and market indexes generally struggle. 

Investors sold stocks on Tuesday after ISM's manufacturing survey showed ongoing weakness in the sector. 

ISM Manufacturing PMI improved to 47.2 in August from 46.8 in July; the reading showed a fifth consecutive month of falling activities. 

Any reading below 50 indicates contraction, and above 50 shows an increase in the level of activities. 

In holiday-shortened trading week, investors are looking forward to the release of several key economic reports. 

On Wednesday, July's durable goods orders are expected to show an increase from the previous month. 

On Thursday, ADP payrolls in August are likely to show a decline from the 122,000 increase in July. 

Friday's nonfarm payrolls for August are expected to show an increase in private payrolls from the 114,000 in July. 

 

U.S. Indexes and Treasury Yields

The S&P 500 index decreased 1.6% to 5,558.48, the Nasdaq Composite fell 2.6% to 17,260.92, and the Russell 2000 index fell 2.5% to 2,162.45. 

The yield on 2-year Treasury notes edged lower to 3.89%, 10-year Treasury notes increased to 3.85%, and 30-year Treasury bonds inched lower to 4.14%.

WTI crude oil decreased $3.60 to $70.40 a barrel, and natural gas prices edged up 2 cents to $2.19 a thermal unit.

Gold fell by $12.84 to $2,484.91 an ounce, and silver decreased by $0.58 to $27.93.

The dollar index, which weighs the US currency against a basket of foreign currencies, edged higher to 101.60.

 

U.S. Stock Movers

Bank of America decreased 0.9% to $40.39, and Warren Buffett-controlled Berkshire Hathaway sold 21.1 million shares over three days to Friday last week for an average price of $40.24. 

Berkshire is the largest shareholder of Bank of America and still holds an 11.4% stake of 882.7 million shares, according to the latest regulatory filing on Friday. 

United States Steel Corporation decreased 3.8% to $36.63 after Vice President Kamala Harris opposed the sale of the company to Japan's Nippon Steel. 

Pfizer declined 1.4% to $28.60, and the pharmaceutical company and Valneva reported positive results in the mid-stage trial for a vaccine to treat Lyme disease. 

Oil explorers declined on Wall Street following the sharp fall in crude oil prices for immediate month deliver on demand growth worries in the U.S. and China. 

Exxon Mobil decreased 3.2% to $114.17, Chevron fell 2.2% to $144.76, Occidental Petroleum dropped 2.2% to $55.61, and ConocoPhillips eased 3.7% to $109.59. 

 

European Markets Lacked Direction, Swiss GDP Growth Accelerated In Second Quarter 

European markets struggled for the second trading day of September as investors debated the weak macroeconomic outlook and future rate path. 

Benchmark indexes in Paris, London, and Frankfurt swung around the flatline, and investors looked forward to monetary policy decisions from the U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank later in the month. 

Market indexes staged a solid recovery in the previous three weeks after dropping as much as nearly 10% over a two-week period ending in the first week in August. 

Investor confidence was further bolstered after inflation updates last week in the eurozone, Spain, Germany, and France indicated steady decline toward the European Central Bank's target rate of 2%. 

This week investors are looking forward to the release of tourist arrivals and car sales updates in Spain and the manufacturing and service sector surveys in the Eurozone.

Investors are also awaiting the release of retail sales updates in the eurozone and Italy, the international trade balance in Germany and France, and the third and final estimate of the second quarter GDP growth in the eurozone.

 

Swiss GDP Growth Accelerated In Second Quarter 

Swiss GDP growth in the second quarter accelerated to 0.7% from the previous month, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs reported Tuesday. 

The 2.6% increase in manufacturing sector activities was the main driver of the growth; however, net international trade contributed negatively after exports declined 5% and imports soared 13.8%. 

On an annual basis, GDP growth accelerated to 1.8% from 0.6% rise in the first quarter. 

 

Spain's Registered Unemployment Increased at the Slowest Pace Since 2016

The number of people registered as jobless in Spain increased by 21,844 or 0.9% from the previous month to 2.6 million people, the ministry of labor and social security reported Tuesday. 

The unemployment in August fell to the lowest level since 2008, and generally unemployment rises in the month because of seasonal factors. 

Seasonally adjusted unemployed fell by 7,724 people in August. 

The registered unemployment rate fell in the agriculture sector by 2,337 people, or 2.60%, and among the group with no previous employment, it fell by 3,150 people (-1.33%). 

The unemployment rose in services by 20,189 people, or 1.11%; in construction by 4,187 people, or 2.11%; and in industry by 2,995 people, or 1.50%.

Unemployment among young people under 25 years of age rose by 2,186 people, or 1.25%, in August from the previous month to 177,112, the lowest figure in the series for the month of August.

 

Europe Indexes and Yields

The DAX index decreased by 0.9% to 18,747.11; the CAC-40 index fell by 0.9% to 7,575.10; and the FTSE 100 index declined by 0.8% to 8,298.46. 

The yield on 10-year German bonds edged higher to 2.32%, French bonds inched up to 3.04%, the UK gilts edged up to 4.03%, and Italian bonds increased to 3.71%.

The euro edged down to $1.10; the British pound inched higher to $1.31; and the U.S. dollar strengthened to 85.15 Swiss cents.

Brent crude decreased $3.32 to $73.94 a barrel, and the Dutch TTF natural gas fell by €1.60 to €36.05 per MWh. 

 

Europe Stock Movers

Swiss Life Holding declined 0.2% to CHF 686.80 and reversed the earlier gain in the day, and the company reported better-than-expected results in the first half, driven by strong performance in its asset management and insurance operations. 

Partners Group dropped 8.2% to CHF 1,123.0, and the Swiss private equity form reported weaker-than-expected quarterly results. 

Wizz Air Holdings declined 0.5% to GBX 1,279.0, and the Hungarian discount airline said passenger count and load factor increased from a year ago in August. 

Watches of Switzerland PLC jumped 4.2% to 395.0 pence after the UK-based luxury watches and jewelry retailer reiterated its fiscal year outlook. 

Ashtead Group increased 2.6% to 5,498.68 pence after the equipment rental company reiterated its annual profit estimate. 

 

Tokyo Indexes Struggled to Stay Above the Flatline Amid Ongoing Rate Path Worries 

Benchmark indexes in Tokyo hovered near the flatline as investors looked at the movement in currency trading amid rate path uncertainty. 

The Nikkei 225 stock average fell 0.2%, and the broader market-focused Topix index edged higher by 0.5%. 

Market indexes advanced to a one-month high after the yen dropped to a two-week low as investors debated the next move by the Bank of Japan. 

The Japanese yen has been one of the most volatile currencies in 2024 after the Bank of Japan ended its negative rate policy and laid the groundwork for additional rate hikes in the near future. 

Currency speculators have been forced to unwind their decade-long carry trade as the yield gap between the Japanese government bonds and U.S. Treasury notes begins to narrow. 

However, stronger yen also depresses earnings of export-driven industrial and automobile companies. causing additional headwinds for the stock market. 

Currency traders, who only a month ago were estimating the Japanese yen to weaken to 165 against the dollar, are now looking for the yen to rise to as high as 135. 

The sharp reversal in market sentiment came about after the Bank of Japan shifted its stance to hawkish and held out for additional rate hikes in the imminent future. 

The policy committee of the central bank is scheduled to announce its rate decisions at the end of the two-day meeting on September 20. 

Investors are hoping that the central bank may differ its plan to raise rates after the latest manufacturing data showed a weak trend. 

 

Japan Stock Movers 

The Nikkei 225 stock average declined 0.2% to 38,618.76, and the Topix index rose 0.5% to 2,729.96. 

Industrial companies traded down amid the uncertainties linked to the yen, and semiconductor equipment makers edged lower amid high valuation worries. 

Advantest decreased 2.2% to ¥6,652.0, Tokyo Electron declined 1.5% to ¥25,145.0, Lasertec decreased 3.4% to ¥25,145.0, and Screen Holdings jumped 0.06% to ¥10,615.0. 

Fanuc Corporation decreased 0.8% to ¥4,262.0, Kawasaki Heavy Industries fell 2.2% to ¥5,205.0, IHI Corp. declined 0.4% to ¥6,661.0. 

Toyota Motor decreased 0.3% to ¥2,772.0, Honda Motor declined 0.4% to ¥1,604.50, and Nissan Motor edged up 0.4% to ¥429.60. 

Banks traded higher amid speculation that the Bank of Japan is more likely to differ its rate path later in the year following the weak manufacturing survey data. 

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group gained 3.3% to ¥1,599.0, Sumitomo Mitsui gained 3.2% to ¥9,910.0, and Mizuho Financial Group gained 2.2% to ¥3,137.0. 

 

Hong Kong and Shanghai Indexes Turned Lower Amid Weak Earnings Outlook 

Stocks in Shanghai and Hong Kong struggled for the second trading day in September amid weak investor sentiment. 

The Hang Seng index declined 0.3%, and the CSI index struggled to rise above the flatline in choppy trading. 

Investors sold stocks after banks and real estate companies reported weak interim results and estimated a weaker outlook for the second half. 

The Hang Seng index has struggled to hold on to its 4% gain in August after New Word Development estimated annual loss, following a string of weak results from other developers including China Vanke, China Resources Land, and Kaisa Group. 

Banks were also under pressure after Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and China Construction Bank reported weak results. 

Investor confidence remained weak after China's manufacturing sector, one of the key drivers of the economic growth, contracted for the fourth month in a row in August. 

Moreover, foreign investors continue to lighten their stock holdings amid poor earnings visibility, fragile economic recovery, and a lack of strong policy response. 

 

China Stock Movers 

The Hang Seng index decreased 0.3% to 17,627.05, and the CSI 300 index edged up 0.01% to 3,266.44. 

China Vanke increased 2.6% to HK $3.97, China Resources Land gained 1% to HK $21.15, and New World Development fell 1.9% to HK $6.70. 

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China decreased 2.8% to HK $4.25, China Construction Bank fell 1.7% to HK $5.34, and Bank of China dropped 2.2% to HK $3.42. 

Tech stocks traded higher and bucked the market weakness as investors hope the intense price war among leading companies will end soon. 

Baidu decreased 0.9% to HK $81.25, Meituan rose 1.3% to HK $117.80, Alibaba Group gained 0.7% to HK $80.05, and JD.com fell 0.5% to HK $104.60. 

Sanergy Group plunged a whopping 98% to 39 HK cents after the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong said 90.2% of the company's shares are held by a group of investors, raising the risk of elevated volatility from a highly concentrated shareholder base. 

Two companies listed their shares in mainland China as investors warmed up to initial public offerings. 

Shanghai InnoStar Bio-tech soared 40% to 20.80 yuan in Shanghai trading, and Zhengzhou Suda Industries Machinery Service soared 39% to 43.37 yuan in Shenzhen trading.