U.S. Stocks Hit by Weak Chinese Trade Report

By IBTimes Staff Reporter: Subscribe to IBTimes's

October 13, 2011 1:28 PM EDT

U.S. stocks and global risk assets on Thursday were hit with a worse-than-expected trade report out of China. 

The S&P 500 Index fell 9.50 points, or 0.79 percent, to trade at 1,197.75  at 1:24 p.m. ET.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 73.90 points, or 0.64 percent, to trade at 11,444.95.  The Nasdaq Composite dipped 0.09 percent.

Share This Story

China reported that September exports rose 17 percent from a year ago and imports increased 21 percent from a year ago.  However, the report was worse than August’s figures and below economists’ expectations.

Moreover, exports to Europe were particularly weak, which highlights the impact the European debt crisis has already had on the European and global economy.

Basic materials stocks, which are sensitive to global economic growth, dropped, with Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (NYSE:FCX) falling 2.87 percent and ArcelorMittal (ADR) (NYSE:MT) declining 3.38 percent.

Follow us

Financial are also weighed down by a weak third quarter earnings report from JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM).  Shares of JPMorgan plunged 5.84 percent, shares of Citigroup (NYSE:C) dropped 5.86 percent, and shares of Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) fell 3.38 percent.

In Europe, Eurozone member Slovakia finally approved the proposed expansion of bailout fund EFSF.  It was the last Eurozone member to do so.  This positive news, however, did not outweigh the negative Chinese trade report as the euro is still down against the U.S. dollar for the day. 

This article is copyrighted by International Business Times, the business news leader
Sponsor Link:
Join the Conversation
IBTimes TV

73 yr Old Becomes Oldest Woman to Climb Mount Everest

Global Markets
Existing Home Sales Jump, World Banks Lowers China Forecast, Euro Prepares for Greek Exit

Recommended for you
  1. An investor reads a newspaper with a magnifying glass in front of an electronic board showing stock information at a brokerage house in Huaibei, Anhui province April 5, 2012.Weekly Roundup: Asian Markets Fall On Weak China Data And Euro Zone Debt Concerns
  2. US Stocks Close Mostly Up Week With Mostly Down Day: Daily Markets WrapU.S. equities closed a moderately green week with a moderately red day on Friday, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 74.92 points, or 0.60 percent, to 12,454.83, the S&P 500 index dropped 2.