Wall Street weakens as bond rout escalates

NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stock markets were weaker at the close on Tuesday after the bond rout that has gripped financial markets globally in recent weeks deepened. The 30-year U.S. Treasury hit 5.59 per cent on Tuesday, the highest level since 2002. TheStandard and Poor's 500closed at7,671.18, down12.51points, a decline of0.16 percent, on volume of2.658B. The index traded between a low of7,653.55and a high of7,699.60, against a 52-week range of6,316.91to7,816.70. TheDow Jones Industrial Averagefell130.52points to51,350.99, a loss of0.25 percent, on volume of374.923M. It moved between51,129.18and51,505.19during the session, within a yearly range of45,057.28to54,744.33. TheNASDAQ Compositeslipped22.84points to26,797.54, down0.09 percent, on volume of5.322B. The tech-heavy index traded between26,717.95and26,919.73, against a 52-week range of20,690.25to27,288.79. The session reflected a broadly quiet but negative tone across, with the Dow posting the steepest percentage decline among the major U.S. indexes, followed by the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq. U.S. Dollar Strengthens Broadly as All Major Currencies Retreat The U.S. dollar advanced against every major currency on Wednesday, as the euro, British pound, Australian dollar, Japanese yen, Canadian dollar and Swiss franc all weakened. TheEUR-USDpair fell0.30 percentto1.1337, as the euro slid against the dollar. TheUSD-JPYpair rose0.06 percentto157.30, with the dollar gaining on the yen. TheGBP-USDpair dropped0.21 percentto1.3227, as the pound declined against the greenback. TheAUD-USDpair fell0.46 percentto0.6986, marking the largest decline among the major pairs as the Australian dollar retreated. This despite the Reserve Bank of Australia hiking official interest rates by 0.25 percent to 4.60 percent on Tuesday. TheUSD-CADpair rose0.08 percentto1.4186, with the dollar advancing against the Canadian dollar. TheUSD-CHFpair climbed0.23 percentto0.8340, as the dollar strengthened against the Swiss franc. Overall, the session reflected broad-based dollar strength, with the Australian dollar suffering the steepest loss, followed by the euro, Swiss franc, pound, Canadian dollar and yen. Global Markets End Mixed as European Indexes Diverge and Asia Retreats World stock markets closed with a mixed performance on Wednesday, as European benchmarks diverged while most Asian indexes finished lower. In Canada, theS&P/TSX Composite indexclosed at35,460.27, down29.59points or0.08 percent, on volume of233.425M. It traded between35,305.72and35,550.06during the day. In London, theFTSE 100closed at10,636.71, down48.17points, a decline of0.45 percent. The session saw the index trade between a low of10,622.00and a high of10,756.15, against a 52-week range of9,266.30to10,989.50. On the European continent, Germany'sDAX Pbucked the downward trend, gaining24.79points to close at25,399.21, a rise of0.10 percent. The index moved between25,338.03and25,617.31during the day, well within its yearly range of21,863.81to26,618.74. In Paris, theCAC 40slipped42.61points to8,035.87, a loss of0.53 percent. It traded between8,023.98and8,107.28, against a 52-week range of7,505.27to8,755.03. TheEURO STOXX 50 Irose18.98points to6,320.26, up0.30 percent, after fluctuating between6,307.00and6,365.40. Its yearly range stands at5,376.81to6,577.20. TheEuronext 100 Indexedged up0.27points to1,897.63, a gain of0.01 percent. It moved between1,896.02and1,909.42, within a 52-week range of1,643.41to1,984.60. Brussels'BEL 20fell38.08points to5,647.29, down0.67 percent. The index traded between5,637.55and5,708.99, against a yearly range of4,761.67to5,905.83. In Asia, Hong Kong'sHANG SENG INDEXclosed at24,523.57, down118.94points or0.48 percent. It traded between24,444.15and24,648.64, within a 52-week range of22,518.00to28,056.10. In mainland China, theSSE Composite Indexadded6.83points to close at3,830.45, up0.18 percent, on volume of1.293B. It traded between3,810.81and3,843.84, against a 52-week range of3,741.11to4,258.86. Japan'sNikkei 225fell396.35points to65,481.27, down0.60 percent. The index moved between64,699.49and65,805.08, within a yearly range of44,357.65to72,831.73. Singapore'sSTI Indexfell14.18points to5,714.84, a decline of0.25 percent. The index moved between5,696.72and5,740.60, against a yearly range of4,272.48to5,828.50. In Australia, theS&P/ASX 200 [XJO]gained29.60points to close at8,709.30, up0.34 percent. It traded between8,661.00and8,709.30, within a 52-week range of8,262.40to9,296.70. The broaderALL ORDINARIES [XAO]rose35.90points to8,886.60, a gain of0.41 percent. It moved between8,837.80and8,886.60, against a yearly range of8,454.90to9,474.80. In New Zealand Tuesday, theS&P/NZX 50 INDEX GROSSfell147.05points to13,683.63, a drop of1.06 percent. It moved between13,681.76and13,830.68, against a yearly range of12,689.78to14,069.22. India'sS&P BSE SENSEXdropped242.65points to72,529.07, down0.33 percent. The index traded between72,064.00and72,684.90, within a 52-week range of71,545.81to86,159.02. Indonesia'sIDX COMPOSITEfell26.16points to6,121.70, a loss of0.43 percent. It moved between6,013.08and6,150.55, against a yearly range of5,317.91to9,174.47. Malaysia'sFTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCIdeclined26.06points to1,643.96, down1.56 percent. It traded between1,643.36and1,665.32, within a 52-week range of1,597.68to1,771.25. South Korea'sKOSPI Composite Indexslipped18.93points to6,870.81, down0.27 percent. Its 52-week high stands at9,385.59. Taiwan'sTSEC CAPITALIZATION WEIGHTED STdropped392.64points to47,631.96, a decline of0.82 percent. It traded between47,573.09and48,045.13, within a yearly range of25,738.31to48,601.53. Israel'sTA-125gained7.06points to4,084.27, up0.17 percent. It moved between4,077.61and4,118.46, against a 52-week range of3,178.94to4,588.51. Egypt'sEGX 30 Price Return Indexfell171.60points to52,297.10, down0.33 percent, on volume of163.622M. It traded between52,202.70and52,996.50, matching its 52-week range of52,202.70to52,996.50. South Africa'sTop 40 USD Net TRI Indexrose34.72points to6,655.94, a gain of0.52 percent. It moved between6,624.38and6,716.93, within a yearly range of6,105.70to8,184.71.