By David Randall
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Weak economic data in the United States and Europe weighed on global stock benchmarks on Monday, sending investors into safe-haven assets and pushing the dollar to a 29-month high.
European stocks (EU) and the euro [FRX/] both fizzled after euro zone manufacturing data showed the sharpest contraction in almost seven years. U.S. stocks dropped sharply in early trading on data released showing manufacturing contracted for the second straight month in September, adding to fears of a slowdown in the world's largest economy.
On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) fell 157.18 points, or 0.58%, to 26,759.65, the S&P 500 (SPX) lost 11.68 points, or 0.39%, to 2,965.06 and the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) dropped 6.89 points, or 0.09%, to 7,992.45. Each index had posted modest gains in earlier trading.
MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe (MIWD00000PUS) shed 0.40%.
A slowdown in U.S. economic growth at a time when Europe is seen as close to falling into a recession would remove one of the few bright spots among global markets.
"If we look at some of the data out of either Asia Pacific or the European zone, the U.S. economic data has certainly been the stand-out across the board," said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at National Securities in New York.
U.S. stocks initially gained after White House trade adviser Peter Navarro dismissed reports on Monday that President Donald Trump's administration was considering delisting Chinese companies from U.S. stock exchanges as "fake news."
China and the United States are to resume trade talks next week in Washington.
"Whether it was a 'fake news' or not, it is becoming harder to know exactly what the U.S. administration will be doing," said Takashi Hiroki, chief strategist at Monex Securities.
Concerns over the economy helped send investors into the perceived safety of bonds. Benchmark 10-year notes (US10YT=RR) last rose 8/32 in price to yield 1.6473%, from 1.673% late on Monday.
British government bonds had sold off as Prime Minister Boris Johnson pitched new proposals for an amended Brexit agreement that would remove the contested insurance policy for the Irish border.
"We had reached extreme lows (for bond yields) in August, but now the central banks have delivered the easing markets were expecting, I think we needed this correction," said Pooja Kumra, a European rates strategist at TD Securities.
The World Trade Organization cut its forecast for growth in global trade this year by more than half on Tuesday and said further rounds of tariffs and retaliation, a slowing economy and a disorderly Brexit could squeeze it even more.
Oil prices rebounded after data showed production by the world's largest oil producers fell in the third quarter. It also came after an 8% drop over the past few months.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude (CLc1) rose 0.6% to $54.39 per barrel after falling 3.3% on Monday. Brent (LCOc1) was up 0.8% at $59.70 a barrel.
"Any rallies, though, are likely to be met with plenty of sellers as a slowing global economy and the recovery of Saudi production outweigh any Middle East risk factors for now," said Jeffrey Halley, a senior market analyst for Asia Pacific at OANDA in Singapore.