Global Stocks Slip as Investors Study Central Bank Clues
By
Tommy Stubbington,
Riva Gold and
Corrie Driebusch
Updated Nov. 12, 2015 12:44 p.m. ET
Global stock markets declined Thursday as investors considered clues on the next moves by major central banks.
U.S. stocks fell, with the S&P 500 down 1%, as investors carefully parsed speeches from U.S. Federal Reserve officials that included Chairwoman Janet Yellen and regional Fed presidents William Dudley, Charles Evans and Jeffrey Lacker. Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer is also scheduled to speak after the market closes. Traders said all ears are on the commentary for clues about the central bank’s thinking.
“Today’s a really cool day to get this complete lineup,” said Jonathan Corpina, senior managing partner at Meridian Equity Partners, adding that he expects to see the utilities, financial and materials sectors, which tend to be interest-rate sensitive, swing depending on the comments. “It’s been a quiet week, earnings season has quieted down, and investors are really just looking for the bigger topic out there of will the Fed raise rates and when.”
But so far, commentary from Fed officials has provided little clarity on the topic, as the officials mainly reiterated their well-known stances on whether a rate increase is appropriate for later this year.
Investors are looking to comments from Federal Reserve Chairwomen Janet Yellen, seen here in June, for clues on the timing of an interest rate rise. ENLARGE
Investors are looking to comments from Federal Reserve Chairwomen Janet Yellen, seen here in June, for clues on the timing of an interest rate rise. Photo: European Pressphoto Agency
The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 205 points, or 1.2%, to 17497, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.6%.
Investors say leading up to the December Fed meeting, there is likely to be increased swings in the stock market.
“Investors are unsure of the implications of a Fed hike, so you’re going to see more volatility,” said Wayne Lin, portfolio manager at QS Investors. “One day investors may like income-generating stocks like REITs or utilities, and one day they may not, depending how the probability of a rate increase fluctuates.”
Ms. Yellen offered no guidance for timing on a possible short-term interest rate increase in her comments Thursday morning. Nor did she comment on the near-term outlook for the U.S. economy. The Fed conference began early Thursday and will continue into Friday afternoon.
In commodities, U.S.-traded crude oil fell 2.8% to $41.72 a barrel. Data on U.S. oil stockpiles showed another bigger-than-expected increase. The decline dragged down energy stocks, with shares of energy companies in the S&P 500 falling 2.1%.
The Stoxx Europe 600 slid 1.6% following some downbeat corporate earnings reports. The index had briefly rebounded from early losses after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi reiterated that the ECB will reconsider its policy at its next meeting in December, before heading lower again. Many investors expect the central bank to cut interest rates or expand its bond-buying program next month.
Mr. Draghi’s comments to the European Parliament in Brussels come in a week when stocks have pulled back after a strong jobs report bolstered expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve will raise interest rates at its next meeting.
“We’ve got these two big central bank meetings coming up and both signal action in December,” said Daniel Murray, chief economist at EFG Asset Management. “The European Central Bank is talking about increasing stimulus, while the Fed is looking to take some stimulus away,” he added. Mr. Murray expects markets to drift until plans from the two central banks become clear.
In corporate news, shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC fell more than 25% after the company warned that its earnings outlook had weakened and said it may cut its dividend.
RWE AG ’s earnings were hampered by low prices for conventional electricity generation and increased taxes. Shares declined 7.4%.
In Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 2.4% while stocks in the rest of the region were mostly flat as investors sought clarity on the timing of the first U.S. interest rate increase in nearly a decade.
On the data calendar, initial jobless claims in the U.S. were unchanged at 276,000 in the week ended Nov. 7, the Labor Department said Thursday. Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had expected 270,000 new claims last week.
In currencies, the euro was down 0.3% against the dollar at $1.0728, pressured by Mr. Draghi’s hints of further easing.
The ECB chief also gave bonds in the eurozone a boost. Moves were sharpest in interest-rate sensitive short-dated bonds, suggesting investors are gearing up for a rate cut in particular. Germany’s two-year yield touched a record low of minus 0.37%. Yields fall as prices rise.
Gold edged down 0.9% to $1,075.30 an ounce.
Write to Tommy Stubbington at
tommy.stubbington@wsj.com, Riva Gold at
riva.gold@wsj.com and Corrie Driebusch at
corrie.driebusch@wsj.com