Markets in the World Mix after S&P 500’s Worst Year since 2008

BANGKOK—Shares began the year mixed, with European benchmarks opening higher on Monday after a lackluster session for the few Asian markets Not closed on New Year’s Day.

U.S. markets also remain closed.

This week, we have employment data and minutes of the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting. As 2023 begins with uncertainties about the war in Ukraine as well as the risk that inflation-stability measures might cause recession, there are still some questions.

Germany’s DAX gained 0.5 percent in early trading to 13,996.02 and the CAC40 in Paris added 0.7 percent to 6,520.71. Markets in Britain and in the U.S. are closed Monday in observance of the New Year’s Day holiday.

In Asia, South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.5 percent to 2,225.67 and the Sensex in Mumbai gained 0.4 percent to 61,109.23. Jakarta’s benchmark was flat.

A report from China showed that manufacturing in China contracted for the third consecutive month in December. This is the largest drop since February 2020. The country is currently dealing with a COVID-19 surge nationwide after suddenly ending anti-epidemic measures.

A monthly purchasing managers’ index declined to 47.0 from 48.0 in November, according to data released from the National Bureau of Statistics on Saturday. Below 50 indicates a decrease in activity.

It’s uncertain what impact removing strict COVID-19 policies that crimped production for raw materials and goods and discouraged travel will have on the global economy.

Markets are being affected by the specter of a recession in the U.S., other major economies, and a prolonged slump China.

“We expect one third of the world economy to be in recession,” Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, said in an interview Sunday with the CBS television network’s “Face the Nation.”

“And yes … even countries that are not in recession, it would feel like recession for hundreds of millions of people,” She spoke.

The minutes of the Fed’s meeting potentially will give investors more insight into its next moves. On Wednesday, the government will release its November report about job openings. The weekly update on unemployment will follow on Thursday. Friday will be the close-watched month-end employment report.

Wall Street also awaits corporate earnings reports which should start arriving in mid-January. According to companies, inflation will likely impact their revenues and profits in 2023. Even though they have raised prices on everything, including food, to offset inflation, which helped to increase their profit margins.

Friday’s quiet trading saw more losses on U.S. stock markets, ending the year of the worst for the benchmark S&P 500 index since 2008.

S&P 500 lost 0.3 percent. The S&P 500 suffered a December loss of 5.9% and a 2022 decline of 19.4%, or 18.1%, not including dividends.

That’s just its third annual decline since the financial crisis of 2008 when the S&P 500 plunged 38.49 percent, and a painful reversal for investors after the S&P 500 notched a gain of nearly 27 percent in 2021. According to S&P Dow Jones Indices, the index lost $8.2 billion in value.

Friday’s drop in the Dow was 0.2 percent, while that of the Nasdaq was 0.1 percent. The Russell 2000 fell 0.3 percent.

Stocks suffered throughout the year due to withdrawal of pandemic stimulus and rising inflation. Central banks raised interest rates in an effort to combat high prices.

The Fed’s key lending rate stood at a range of 0 percent to 0.25 percent at the beginning of 2022 and closed the year at a range of 4.25 percent to 4.5 percent after seven increases. It is expected that it will range from 5 percent to 5.25% by the end of 2023. No rate cuts are planned before 2024, according to the U.S. central banks.

Ukraine’s conflict worsened inflationary pressure earlier in the year by making oil, gas, and food commodity prices even more volatile amid existing supply chain issues. Oil closed Friday at $80, which is $5 more than where it began the year. However, oil prices rose to $120 between Friday and Friday, which helped energy. stocks Post, which is up 59 per cent, was the only gain of the 11 sectors in S&P 500.

The U.S. dollar increased to 130.94 Japanese Yuan from 130.89 yen in currency transactions. The euro dropped to $1.0677, from $1.0699.

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