💎 Fed’s first rate cut since 2020 set to trigger market. Find undervalued gems with Fair ValueSee Undervalued Stocks

U.S. stocks open sharply lower as shutdown weighs; Dow Jones down 1%

Published 10/07/2013, 09:43 AM
NDX
-
UK100
-
US500
-
FCHI
-
DJI
-
DE40
-
STOXX50
-
JP225
-
HK50
-
IXIC
-
Investing.com - U.S. stocks opened sharply lower on Monday, as ongoing concerns over the consequences of the U.S. government shutdown and a potential U.S. default weighed broadly on market sentiment.

During early U.S. trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 1%, the S&P 500 index retreated 0.91%, while the Nasdaq Composite index slumped 0.80%.

Republican House Speaker John Boehner said Sunday the House will not support bills to fully reopen the government or increase the U.S. debt ceiling unless Democrats agree to talks about spending cuts.

The comments fuelled fears that the political deadlock in Washington will not be resolved by October 17, the date which the Treasury Department has estimated the U.S. could risk an unprecedented default.

In addition, delays in U.S. economic data releases looked likely to fuel uncertainty over whether the Federal Reserve will hold off on any move to roll back its USD85 billion a month asset purchase program.

The shutdown meant that Friday’s scheduled release of the U.S. nonfarm payrolls report for September was postponed and no new date was given for the release of the data.

In the tech sector, Apple shares climbed 0.82% even as rival Samsung Electronics said it wants President Barack Obama to give it the same right he gave the iPhone maker, which is the right to keep importing smartphones and tablets found to infringe the other's patents.

Separately, the SEC ended an investigation into Apple's overseas cash and tax practices without taking any action.

Adding to gains, BlackBerry surged 3.90% after Reuters reported last week that the smartphone maker is talking to Cisco, Google and SAP about selling all or parts of the company.

On the downside, private-equity firm Apollo Global Management LLC tumbled 0.99% as it was reportedly considering seeking approval to raise the limit on its next flagship fund after investors expressed interest in putting in as much as USD20 billion.

Elsewhere, Alcoa lost 1.01% after Morgan Stanley cut its rating on the aluminum producer to "equal weight" from "overweight."

Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were sharply lower. The EURO STOXX 50 retreated 0.71%, France’s CAC 40 declined 0.61%, Germany's DAX lost 0.83%, while Britain's FTSE 100 slid 0.73%.

During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index shed 0.71%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index tumbled 1.22%.


Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.