Mounting virus woes and historic US data shock hit markets

New Yorkers in need receive free produce, dry goods and meat at a mobile food bank as the government reports an historic drop in US economic growth

New York (AFP) - US and European equities mostly fell Thursday on mounting evidence from corporations and governments of a coronavirus-induced downturn, crystalized by the worst quarterly drop in US growth since records began after World War II.

The slide came on the heels of a gloomy Federal Reserve warning over a US spike in COVID-19 infections, adding to fears of more job losses amid a pandemic that continues to pound the global economy. 

Major Asian trading hubs had managed to limit losses before the US Commerce Department revealed that the world's largest economy contracted by one-third in the second quarter -- the worst decline on record.

In Frankfurt, the benchmark DAX index closed 3.4 percent lower on data showing that Germany's powerful economy shrank by a record 10.1 percent in the second quarter.

Elsewhere, London's FTSE 100 lost 2.3 percent and Paris fell by more than two percent on an avalanche of gloomy corporate earnings tied to the impact of the pandemic.

Investor alarm spread in Europe on news of disappointing losses from the likes of aircraft manufacturer Airbus, steelmaker ArcelorMittal and energy giants Eni and Royal Dutch Shell.

Wall Street also had a fairly gloomy session, with the Dow and S&P 500 finishing solidly lower after the Commerce Department reported the US economy contracted a stunning 32.9 percent in the second quarter due to business shutdowns.

Perhaps more troubling was new Labor Department data showing that the US saw its second consecutive weekly increase in initial claims for unemployment benefits, with another 1.43 million filed last week.

Capitol Hill deadlock

Congress is currently locked in debate over the size and composition of the next spending bill, with Democrats fighting to retain the $600 additional weekly payment made to unemployed workers set to expire Friday. 

Republicans want to cut that money and offer businesses that reopen protection if employees become infected.

"The staggering news of the historic decline of the gross domestic product in the second quarter should shock us all," US Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Neil Bradley said in a statement.

The data "should compel Congress to move swiftly" to provide assistance to unemployed workers and businesses.

While US stocks mostly fell, the Nasdaq was a bright spot, working its way into positive territory and closing up 0.4 percent ahead of a deluge of earnings reports from big tech companies.

Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google parent Alphabet all reported higher profits. Shares of those companies rose in after-hours trading, but the gains came after the stocks won huge increases in recent months that could leave them vulnerable to a sell-off, analyst say.

Key figures around 2200 GMT

New York - Dow: DOWN 0.9 percent at 26,313.65 (close)

New York - S&P 500: DOWN 0.4 percent at 3,246.22 (close)

New York - Nasdaq: UP 0.4 percent at 10,587.81 (close)

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 2.3 percent at 5,989.99 (close)

Frankfurt - DAX 30: DOWN 3.5 percent at 12,379.65 (close)

Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 2.8 percent at 4,852.94 (close) 

EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 2.78 percent at 3,208.20 (close) 

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.3 percent at 22,339.23 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 0.7 percent at 24,710.59 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.2 percent at 3,286.82 (close)

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1839 from $1.1792 at 2100 GMT 

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 104.78 yen from 104.92 yen 

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3088 from $1.2997 

Euro/pound: DOWN at 90.40 pence from 90.73 

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 3.4 percent at $39.86 per barrel 

Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 1.9 percent at $42.94 per barrel 

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