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POST TIME: 15 November, 2015 00:00 00 AM / LAST MODIFIED: 15 November, 2015 12:19:35 PM
Paris attacks may add to stock market, oil price woes
International Business Times

Paris attacks may add to stock 
market, oil price woes

French vigipirate soldiers patrol at the airport of M�rignac, southwestern France yesterday, following a series of coordinated attacks in and around Paris late Friday that left more than 120 people dead. AFP PHOTO

Analysts have said that the 13 November Paris attacks could add jitters to the already declining stock markets and oil prices. US stock index futures declined to session lows after the close on Friday, following the attacks, reports International Business Times. Oil prices which have witnessed their biggest weekly loss in eight months are now hovering near the $40 (£26.2, €37.2) mark. Alan Lancz, a Toledo, Ohio-based investment adviser said, "The geopolitical aspect is always out there, and anything that brings that back into the headlines will pull the buy orders fairly quickly." Stock markets across the globe are facing distress resulting in a plummet in prices due  to various factors such as fear of a rate hike  by the US Federal reserve in December, China  slowdown and disappointing company results  and forecasts. It was also recently reported that the chances of a US rate hike had become more likely as US unemployment numbers had dipped to 5 per cent.
The MSCI all-country world index, MIWD00000PUS witnessed its biggest weekly decline since early  September, losing 1.1 per cent on Friday and 3 per cent for the week. All three major American indices namely, the Dow Jones industrial average, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite had their worst week since August, due to fears of a declining China economy and stock market slammed global asset prices. In commodities, oil prices are sliding due to fresh signs of increasing supplies and slackening demand, especially in China. Apart from oil, other commodities from  coffee to copper too declined for the week. The S&P GSCI index, which tracks the prices of 24 commodities, closed at its lowest level since August shedding 4 per cent this past week. Alan Gayle, senior investment strategist at RidgeWorth Investments in Atlanta, which has $50bn in assets under management said, "You had both  earnings concerns and macroeconomic concerns,  and what I'd call technical vulnerability, all ganging up on the market this week."