Global Markets: World stock markets on pace for worst week since March as trade, rate hikes weigh

By David Randall

NEW YORK (Reuters) - World share indexes limped toward their worst week in almost six months on Friday, with Asia equities hitting a 14-month low and U.S. stocks down in early trading as investors braced for additional trade tariffs and higher U.S. interest rates.

The pan-European STOXX 600 ended the week with a 2.3 percent loss, its worst weekly performance since the end of March. Emerging market stocks dropped 3.2 percent.

A deadline for public comment before Washington imposes tariffs on another $200 billion worth of Chinese imports passed early on Friday, meaning they could take effect at any moment, although no clear timetable has been announced.

 

China has warned of retaliation if Washington launches any new measures.

Australia's dollar, often used as play on China's fortunes due to its huge metals exports there, hit a 2-1/2 year low in European trading.

"It seems unlikely the tariffs are not implemented as the U.S. administration believes that they are winning the trade war and will be in a stronger position to negotiate if they put more pressure on China," JPMorgan analysts wrote in a note.

Another strong U.S., jobs report and signs that average hourly wages are increasing at the fastest pace since 2009 cemented expectations that the Federal Reserve will continue to raise interest rates this year and next.

"Everything is flashing green for a rate hike. I think a rate hike in December is very likely," said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics. "The Fed has to hike rates at least three times next year, mostly likely four. Something has to go off the rail for it not to happen."

In morning trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 38.82 points, or 0.15 percent, to 25,957.05, the S&P 500 lost 1.33 points, or 0.05 percent, to 2,876.72 and the Nasdaq Composite added 18.33 points, or 0.23 percent, to 7,941.06.

The dollar hit a four-month low on the franc around $0.9645. Against a basket of currencies, the dollar index edged down to 94.939 and was heading for a fourth weekly drop.

In commodity markets, the dip in the dollar left gold a sliver higher at $1,200.67 an ounce.

Benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury notes last fell 18/32 in price to yield 2.9424 percent, from 2.877 percent late on Thursday.

U.S. crude fell 0.9 percent, to $67.16 per barrel and Brent was last down 0.5 percent, to $76.12 per barrel, on the day.

(Reporting by David Randall; Editing by Dan Grebler)