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Global stocks slide as tensions build in Ukraine

Source: Agencies | March 4, 2014, Tuesday | Online Edition

Russia's military advance into Ukraine rattled global markets yesterday.

US stocks fell the most in a month and the price of crude oil rose sharply as traders feared Russian exports could be affected by sanctions. Gold and bond prices rose as investors sought safety.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index had its biggest drop since February 3, following markets in Europe and Asia lower, as Russia's military tightened its grip on the Crimea region of Ukraine.

It was the second time this year the US stock market has been roiled by developments in emerging markets. Stocks slipped in January as investors worried about slowing growth in China and other emerging economies. Now a showdown in Ukraine has grabbed investors' attention and stoked fears of a tit-for-tat campaign of economic sanctions between Russia and Western powers.

"Financial markets are doing exactly would you would expect them to," said Phil Orlando, chief equity market strategist at Federated Investors. "You have no idea what is going to happen and how this is going to play out."

The S&P 500 index fell 13.72 points, or 0.7 percent, to 1,845.73, the biggest drop since Feb. 3. The index was down as much as 25 points at one point before recouping some of the ground it lost.

The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 153.68 points, or 0.9 percent, to 16,168.03. The Nasdaq composite fell 30.82 points, or 0.7 percent, to 4,277.30.

European markets fell even more. Germany's DAX sank 3.4 percent and Russia's benchmark stock index plunged 12 percent.

"Europe gets a lot of energy supplies from Russia," said David Kelly, chief global strategist at JPMorgan funds. "So, Europe would be a lot more directly affected by a trade war with Russia than the United States would."

Kelly says that the most likely scenario is that Russia and Western powers, including the US, will reach a compromise relatively quickly. That would send stock prices higher.

As investors sold risky stocks, they bought safer assets such as gold and US government debt securities. The dollar and the Japanese yen also increased in value.

The price of gold rose US$28.70, or 2.2 percent, to US$1,350.30 an ounce, its biggest gain of the year. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which moves inversely to its price, fell to 2.60 percent from 2.64 percent on Friday.

The price of crude following warnings by Washington and other governments that Russia, a major oil exporter, might face sanctions after it seized control of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. Russia was the world's second-largest producer of oil in 2012, accounting for 12.6 percent of global supplies, according to the International Energy Agency.

The prices of crude oil climbed US$2.33, or 2.3 percent, to US$104.92 a barrel, its highest price of the year.

Russian stocks that trade in the US were also hit hard. Mechel, a mining company, fell 18 cents, or 9.5 percent, to US$1.72; Phone company VimpelCom fell 51 cents, or 5 percent, to US$9.65. Energy company LukOil fell US$3.20, or 5.9 percent, to US$51.20.

The drop in stocks might also present investors with the opportunity to buy stocks at lower prices, said Terry Sandven, chief equity strategist for US Bank.

"Clearly geopolitical risks are elevated, but it's too early to tell about the longer-term implications," Sandven said. "It's still a buy-on-the-dip equity market and the fundamental backdrop is still favorable for equities to trade higher."

The developments in the Ukraine also overshadowed some encouraging developments on the US economy.

Manufacturing in the US expanded at a faster pace in February as new orders and businesses boosted their stockpiles. The Institute for Supply Management, a group of purchasing managers, said Monday that its manufacturing index rose to 53.2 in February from 51.3 in January. Any reading above 50 signals growth.

Americans also spent more in January, but the increase came from a surge in spending on heating bills during the harsh winter. Spending in areas such as autos and clothing declined. Spending rose 0.4 percent in January after a 0.1 percent gain in December, the Commerce Department said Monday. The December figure was revised down from a 0.4 percent increase.

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