Stock Markets Around The World Have Had A Rough Month

Stock Markets Around The World Have Had A Rough Month
Daniel Johnston

4 months ago2 mins

What’s going on here?

Global stock markets had a nasty surprise this month.

What does this mean?

Stock markets around the world kicked off the year with a boom, as the newfound allure of AI and sunny expectations for interest rate peaks jazzed up share prices. But as the months rolled on, the music changed. A string of strong US economic updates and Europe’s stubborn core inflation made investors rethink interest rate trajectories. Add mounting evidence of China’s economic slowdown to the mix too, and you’ve got a recipe for market jitters. In just the first three weeks of this month, heavyweights like the US’s S&P 500, Europe’s Stoxx 600, and China’s CSI 300 collectively lost a whopping $3 trillion in value – equivalent to the value of the UK’s entire FTSE 100.

US stocks decline
Source: Google Finance

Why should I care?

Zooming in: Maleficent seven.

Over in the US, tech giants are feeling the heat. This month the “magnificent seven” – Amazon, Alphabet, Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Nvidia, and Tesla – all suffered their first three-week-long losing streak of 2023. So, with AI being the talk of the town, all eyes are on AI darling Nvidia as it gears up to announce its results. Analysts have set the bar high, upping their price targets just last week. But if the firm doesn’t measure up to those lofty heights, it might just further dent the wider market.

Nvidia price target

For markets: Beware of the bear.

Markets, like life, have their highs and lows – and some see this downswing as a sign the market’s healthy. But there is a lot of caution around right now: after all, the ratio of bearish put options to bullish call options purchased is nearing a two-year high, showing investors are getting pretty defensive. And with recent lackluster economic data from the eurozone and the UK, it might be wise to avoid chucking heaps of cash into markets anywhere right now.

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Disclaimer: These articles are provided for information purposes only. Occasionally, an opinion about whether to buy or sell a specific investment may be provided. The content is not intended to be a personal recommendation to buy or sell any financial instrument or product, or to adopt any investment strategy as it is not provided based on an assessment of your investing knowledge and experience, your financial situation or your investment objectives. The value of your investments, and the income derived from them, may go down as well as up. You may not get back all the money that you invest. The investments referred to in this article may not be suitable for all investors, and if in doubt, an investor should seek advice from a qualified investment advisor.

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