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Wall Street futures fall after Trump refuses to rule out
recession risks
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Chinese consumer prices decline at fastest pace in 13
months in
February
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US Treasury yields drop, crude oil rises as tariffs sow
uncertainty
By Nell Mackenzie and Kevin Buckland
LONDON, March 10 (Reuters) - European shares dipped to
their lowest in almost a month on Monday and world stocks
followed as building deflationary pressure in China added to
growth worries from a lacklustre U.S. economy and an escalating
global trade war.
Europe's broader STOXX 600 regional benchmark fell
by as much as around 1%, just as a gauge of equity volatility
nudged up to a fresh 7-month high above 23 points.
"This week is a big week, we have some massive policy
decisions coming up that potentially define not only the next
quarters but possibly the years to come," said James Rossiter,
head of global macro strategy at TD Securities.
Stock investors were holding back because of a lack of
conviction amid the uncertainty, Rossiter added.
European Union finance ministers this week are set to
discuss how to pay for defence through new joint borrowing,
existing EU funds and a greater role for the European Investment
Bank.
German leaders agreed last week to overhaul state borrowing
rules to boost defence spending and also set aside 500 billion
euros ($541 billion) for infrastructure investments over 10
years.
Investors looked ahead to Germany's inflation figures later
this week, a reading that comes as European Union trade tensions
with the United States simmer.
In the U.S., Federal Reserve speakers scheduled to speak
include Chair Jerome Powell on the U.S. economic outlook.
China's consumer price index fell at the sharpest pace in 13
months in February, data showed, while producer price deflation
persisted in the latest hit to consumer confidence in the
world's second-biggest economy.
China's blue-chip CSI300 Index closed 0.4% lower,
while the Shanghai Composite Index eased 0.2%. Hong
Kong's benchmark Hang Seng fell 1.9%.
The yen strengthened 0.7% to 146.975 per dollar.
Beijing pledged more stimulus to boost consumption and
foster innovation in artificial intelligence at the start of the
week-long National People's Congress meeting that runs until
Tuesday.
'CAVALIER'
U.S. President Donald Trump in a Fox News interview on
Sunday declined to predict whether his tariffs on China, Canada
and Mexico would result in a U.S. recession.
A run of soft U.S. economic data continued on Friday after
monthly figures showed the labour market created fewer jobs than
expected in February, in the first payrolls report capturing
Trump's policies.
"I think it's Trump's cavalier approach to economic policy
that's rattling sentiment," said Kyle Rodda, senior financial
markets analyst at Capital.com.
"Unlike during his first administration, where signs of an
economic slowdown or market correction would see a pivot on
policy, he is genuinely focused on significant, structural
change to the economy - even if it comes at the expense of
short-term growth."
The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield dropped 7 basis
points to 4.2474% and the two-year yield fell 6 bps
to 3.945%.
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the currency
against six others, was steady at 103.61.
The euro edged up 0.3% to $1.0865 and sterling
was little changed at $1.2926.
In his latest warning to Canada, Trump said on Friday that
reciprocal tariffs on dairy and lumber could be imminent.
"For those struggling to keep up, that means that Canadian
tariffs were imposed on Tuesday, tweaked on Wednesday, delayed
on Thursday, then expanded again on Friday," said Michael Brown,
senior research strategist at Pepperstone.
"In that sort of an environment, it is frankly impossible
for any market participant to price risk."
The U.S. president also said he is strongly considering
sanctions on Russian banks and tariffs on Russian products to
try and bring a speedy end to the war in Ukraine.
Crude oil rose with both Brent and U.S. West Texas
Intermediate crude last up by around 20 cents at $70.53
and $67.20, respectively, a barrel.
Cryptocurrency bitcoin lost as much as 7.2% from
Friday to reach its lowest this month at $80,085.42, and was
last at $82,040.
The long-awaited executive order on creating the reserve
came on Friday, but disappointed many investors by saying there
would be no additional buying of bitcoin.