18/09/2001

Europe founders as Wall Street makes slow progress

European stock markets continue to founder as Wall Street makes some gains following Monday’s resumption of trading after five days of inaction.

The US Federal Reserve cut interest rates by half a per cent on Monday, setting the scene for economic recovery in the wake of last Tuesday’s attacks on the World Trade Centre and in Washington.

When trading commenced on Monday, both the Dow Jones and NASQAC suffered considerable losses, but less than the 10% drop in price that had initially been predicted by analysts. By Tuesday afternoon, the NASDAQ reported gains of just over one per cent, while the Dow Jones was also making progress, albeit at a slower rate.

However, European markets remain depressed, despite the announcement by Central Banks throughout Europe of cuts in interest rates.

Japan has now joined US and European efforts to avert global economic disaster by implementing a cut in its discount rate, to 0.10 per cent. Japan’s interest rates already stand at zero per cent, in an attempt to stave off the worst threat of recession the country has experienced in many decades.

Trade remains positive, if tentative, in Asian markets, due to fears of imminent US reprisals in Afghanistan. (CL)

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