European stocks stutter as attention turns to trade deadline, central bank meetings

LONDON, Dec 9 — European stocks fell today as worries about a Chinese economic slowdown and the US-China trade war outweighed Friday’s strong US jobs data, in a quiet start to trading before several big events later in the week.

The Federal Reserve meets on Wednesday and new European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde holds her first policy meeting on Thursday, which will also see a parliamentary election in Britain, with the results due on Friday.

However, at the forefront of most investors’ minds is an impending December 15 deadline for the United States to impose a new round of tariffs on China.

Top White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Friday that the deadline was still in place to impose a new round of tariffs on Chinese consumer goods, but he also said President Donald Trump likes where trade talks with China are going.

“If we see Donald Trump decide not to delay tariffs, that would lead to a risk-off reaction in markets,” said Nomura currency strategist Jordan Rochester.

“We don’t expect tariffs to go into effect as the talks are ongoing but the trade talks are the main driver this week,” he said, adding he did not expect any “fireworks” from the central bank meetings.

European shares slipped. The Euro STOXX 600 was down marginally, while the German DAX dropped 0.1 per cent. France’s CAC 40 shed 0.2 per cent and the FTSE 100 was flat.

That followed small gains in Asia, where Japan’s benchmark Nikkei added 0.33 per cent while MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan gained 0.15 per cent.

Markets have been largely working on the assumption that the planned December 15 tariffs, which cover several consumer products such as cellphones and toys, will be dropped or at least postponed, given that Washington and Beijing agreed in October to work on a trade deal.

Chinese shivers

China’s exports shrank for the fourth consecutive month in November, sending shivers through a market already concerned about damage being done to global demand by the trade war, but growth in imports may be a sign that Beijing’s stimulus steps are helping to stoke demand.

The US dollar, which bounced on Friday after data showed US job growth increased in November by the most in 10 months, was down marginally against a basket of currencies and the euro, at US$1.1064 (RM4.60).

The strong labour market data in the United States helped power stock markets and further allay fears about a slowdown in the world’s largest economy.

“This economy is still climbing and shattering the records for longevity,” said Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist at MUFG Union Bank. “Right now, the clouds of recession still remain well offshore despite troubled economies elsewhere in the world and a trade war.”

The dollar was also down 0.1 per cent against the Japanese yen at ¥108.51.

Elsewhere in currency markets the British pound made more gains, rising to a new 7-month high of US$1.3180 as investors raised their bets on a Conservative Party victory — and a ruling majority in parliament — in Thursday’s general election.

Government bond markets were little moved, as investors awaited the central bank meetings.

Oil prices weakened after the disappointing Chinese trade data.

Brent futures were down 0.56 per cent, at US$64.03 per barrel after gaining about 3 per cent last week on the news that OPEC and its allies would deepen output cuts.

West Texas Intermediate oil futures lost 0.66 per cent to US$58.90 a barrel, having risen about 7 per cent last week on the prospects for lower production from ‘OPEC+’. — — — —