Stock markets are getting battered again in morning trade on Friday, as the German DAX extends its weekly losses to a staggering 5.65% taking its losses from last month’s highs until now to 10.82%.
People have been talking for such a long time about when we will get a big correction in the markets but these figures suggest that not only are they under way, we’ve actually surpassed a 10% correction and momentum is not slowing. The DAX appears to be a bit of a special case given that many of the concerns right now are focused around the slowdown in the eurozone, with poor German numbers attracting particular attention.
While US losses are lagging their German counterpart’s, both the S&P 500 and the Dow 30 are down 2% this week and look likely to extend these losses before the end of the week. They’re also down around 4.5% and 4%, respectively, since hitting new highs last month so the correction that people fear may be well under way.
A lot has been blamed for these losses but I think it’s clear that they are being driven by fear. No one wants to be the last out and it’s become perfectly clear recently that people are uncomfortable with the current levels.
One thing that may support stocks in the coming weeks is earnings season, which unofficially started on Wednesday when Alcoa Inc (NYSE:AA) announced results for the third quarter. If we get a good earnings season that includes above expected earnings and revenues as well as minimal profit warnings and generally positive outlooks, I would expect fears to ease and people may look quite favourably on the buying opportunities that have been created.
As far as today is concerned, there is very little scheduled for release in terms of economic data or earnings, which means there is little to stop the sell-off. What we could see towards the end of the session is some profit-taking given the size of the losses over the last 24 hours.
The S&P 500 is currently expected to open 9 points lower, the Dow 30 84 points lower and the NASDAQ Composite 35 points lower.
DISCLAIMER: Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Alpari (UK) Limited, unless otherwise specifically stated. This content does not constitute investment advice.