LONDON: European stock markets slid and the dollar faltered Wednesday despite more upbeat talk in Washington on a US stimulus package.
The pound climbed higher meanwhile thanks to hopes that Britain and the European Union will strike a post-Brexit trade deal despite renewed tensions.
Oil prices plunged by 3.0 percent or more, however, following the release of data that showed an increase in US stocks of gasoline (petrol), whereas analysts had expected a decrease.
“European equity markets are in the red… as traders are growing tired of the fact that US politicians have yet to strike a deal with respect to the stimulus package,” noted David Madden, analyst at CMC Markets UK.
After months of talks, Democrats and the White House said they were closing the gap on their stimulus proposals, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said legislation was being drawn up.
President Donald Trump’s administration sent three top officials to speak on three different TV networks Wednesday to tout what they called progress made toward a deal.
The White House has upped its offer by $80 billion to $1.88 trillion, which is still short of the Democrats’ $2.2 trillion plan, but US President Donald Trump has said he is willing to go higher.
The Dow Jones index was nonetheless in negative territory in midday New York trading.
In Asia, the Tokyo stock market closed with a gain of 0.3 percent, while Hong Kong added 0.8 percent and the main stock index in Shanghai dipped following recent gains.
Elsewhere, coronavirus vaccine hopes were raised after US biotech firm Moderna said its candidate could be given approval for emergency use as early as December.
The disease has flared up again across the United States and Europe, where many countries have been forced to introduce targeted lockdowns that have fanned fears for business survival and warnings of a possible double-dip recession.
Key figures around 1600 GMT –
London – FTSE 100: DOWN 1.9 percent at 5,776.50 points (close)
Frankfurt – DAX 30: DOWN 1.4 percent at 12,557.64 (close)
Paris – CAC 40: DOWN 1.5 percent at 4,853.95 (close)
EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 1.5 percent at 3,180.70
New York – Dow Jones: DOWN 0.2 percent at 28,259.02
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 0.3 percent at 23,639.46 (close)
Hong Kong – Hang Seng: UP 0.8 percent at 24,754.42 (close)
Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.1 percent at 3,325.01 (close)
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1874 from $1.1824 at 2130 GMT
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 104.54 yen from 105.45 yen
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3153 from $1.2946
Euro/pound: DOWN at 90.28 pence from 91.33 pence
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 3.4 percent at $40.28 per barrel
Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 3.0 percent at $41.85 per barrel

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