China’s vast manufacturing sector expanded in early December at the fastest pace in 14 months as new orders and employment rose, a survey showed, adding to evidence of a pick-up in the Chinese economy.
The dollar fell from a near nine-month high against the yen while the euro surged to its highest level against the greenback since early May as U.S. inflation data affirmed the Federal Reserve’s ultra-easy monetary policy. Talks between President Barack Obama and House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner on budget negotiations designed to avert the “fiscal cliff” were seen at an apparent standstill on Friday. Some $600 billion in tax hikes and spending cuts that are set to begin in January, unless lawmakers reach a deal, are seen as a threat that could tip the U.S.economy back into recession. Frustration has mounted over the lack of progress, reflected in a 0.6 percent drop in the S&P 500 on Thursday.
“The uncertainty that (the fiscal talks) is creating is basically holding the markets hostage in the short term,” said Andres Garcia-Amaya, global market strategist at J.P. Morgan Funds, in New York.
The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI closed down 35.71 points, or 0.27 percent, at 13,135.01. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index .SPX fell 5.87 points, or 0.41 percent, at 1,413.58. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC slid 20.83 points, or 0.70 percent, at 2,971.33.
Weighing on the Nasdaq was a 3.8 percent drop in shares of tech giant Apple (AAPL.O) after UBS cut its price target to $700 from $780 and the iPhone 5 debuted in China to a cool reception. The stock, which closed at $509.79, has tumbled in recent months for several reasons after peaking at $705 in September, including investors locking in profits ahead of scheduled capital-gains increases for next year.
The MSCI global stock index .MIWD00000PUS fell 0.04 percent to 336.67 points. European shares slipped as investors banked profits after hitting 18-month highs earlier in the week, and some said the pan-European index was vulnerable to a deeper correction the longer U.S. budget talks remain at an impasse.
The FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 closed down 0.1 percent at 1,133.36. “The bad news is, in large part, we’ve seen the market ignore relatively good news in the economic data stream as we focus on the fiscal cliff,” said Art Hogan, managing director of Lazard Capital Markets in New York. China’s manufacturing data was encouraging for its key trading partners, including the United States, and for the prospects for world economic growth. China is the world’s second-largest oil consumer.
Brent crude settled $1.24 higher at $109.15 a barrel, the first weekly gain this month after two weeks of losses. U.S. crude rose 84 cents to settle at $86.73.
But the outlook for the euro zone economy remains gloomy. Disappointing German manufacturing sector figures and a rise in euro zone unemployment overshadowed a small pick-up in purchasing manager data.
The German manufacturing purchasing managers index slipped to 46.3 in December from 46.8 the previous month, remaining well below the 50 threshold that divides growth from contraction and missing the consensus Reuters poll forecast for a rise to 47.2.
“All in all, the picture for the(euro zone) economy has not changed much after today’s data,” said Annalisa Piazza, an economist at Newedge Strategy in London. “GDP is expected to continue to contract in Q4-12, and there are no signs of improvement for the first part of next year.” The euro rose 0.64 percent to $1.3160, while the dollar slipped 0.15 percent to 83.48 yen.
The yen had earlier weakened after Japanese media reported the conservative Liberal Democratic Party is set for a resounding victory in elections on Sunday, cementing speculation that the party’s leader, Shinzo Abe, will be in a strong position to push for bold monetary easing. “Abe has been making pretty strong comments about inflation targeting, and if we look at the economy Japan needs a lower currency without a doubt,” said Maurice Pomery, managing director at consultants Strategic Alpha.
“This is going to put pressure on the BoJ. It’s the start of a move lower in the yen that has a long way to go.” The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note was up 8/32 in price to yield 1.7041 percent. The U.S. Labor Department said its Consumer Price Index dropped 0.3 percent last month as a sharp decline in gasoline prices offset increases in other areas. It was also the largest drop since May and followed a 0.1 percent gain in October. “The crux of this report is simply that the inflationary backdrop remains very benign, providing the Fed with considerable breathing room to keep monetary policy accommodative,” said Millan Mulraine, a senior economist at TD Securities in New York.
