European Markets Continue to Skid

Nikkei drops 4.5%, Europe opens down

(NEWSER) - Stocks in Asia and Europe plummeted today amid global fears for the auto industry and hesitation that this week's G20 summit in London might not deliver on ambitious goals. In Tokyo the Nikkei dropped 4.5%, with Toyota, Honda and Nissan all posting substantial falls. At midmorning stocks in London, Paris and Frankfurt were all down, with automakers and banks leading losses. More»

Big exporters still trembling over possible US slowdown

(NEWSER) - European stocks and US futures advanced overnight, as traders waxed optimistic that the credit crisis won't spread to affect the broader economy. But Asian markets are more concerned about the general prospect of a US slowdown—which could hit Asia's export-heavy economy hard. More»

(NEWSER) - Stocks rallied in early trading today after the Federal Reserve shaved a half-point off of one of its key interest rates, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Dow initially shot up more than 300 points; after settling some, it was up 150.46 by midmorning. European stocks were buoyed as well, with London's FTSE 100 jumping 2.1% after a disastrous plunge yesterday. More»

Taipei leads region's markets on another bullish day

(NEWSER) - Asian stocks hit a 7-month high today as investors put aside swine flu fears and and seized on good news from China. In Taiwan the main index soared 5.6%, its second straight major gain, while in Hong Kong the Hang Seng index closed up 5.5%. European markets started the day in positive territory—Fiat stock jumped 6.1% on news of its purchase of a stake in Chrysler and plans to expand further. More»

Airlines decline while drugmakers advance; Mexican peso tumbles

(NEWSER) - Stocks declined worldwide today, with travel companies leading losses as investors gave their first reaction to the outbreak of swine flu. Airlines took a pummeling—Lufthansa fell more than 12%, British Airways 8.7%—and tour operators like Carnival also suffered sharp drops. But pharmaceutical companies did well: drugmaker Roche, which manufactures Tamiflu and other anti-influenza drugs, shot up 4%. More»