by Margaryta Kirakosian
Global stocks snapped a seven-day winning streak and oil prices slumped as investors pulled away from risky assets with the enthusiasm over the recent equity rally continuing to dim.
The MSCI World Index dipped 0.1% and S&P 500 equity futures slid 0.5%. Crude prices fell after President Donald Trump said the US is getting closer to a deal on Iran’s nuclear program, with Brent sinking to $64 a barrel. Both the dollar and gold declined.
Traders are looking ahead to a speech by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and slew of economic reports as the next indication about whether the lightning-quick equities rebound has further to run. Billionaire Steve Cohen, speaking Wednesday at the Sohn Investment Conference in New York, put the chances of a US recession at about 45%.
Cohen, the founder of hedge fund Point72 Asset Management, said he doesn’t expect the Federal Reserve to cut rates right away, because “they are going to be worried about inflation from tariffs.” He said he expects US economic growth next year to slow to 1.5% or less, “which is OK but not phenomenal.”
US data on Thursday include retail sales and producer prices for April as well as a manufacturing reading. Powell is due to deliver opening remarks at a Fed conference in Washington.
The yield on 10-year Treasuries held near the highest in a month at 4.53%.
In corporate news, Starbucks Corp. has contacted private equity firms, technology companies and others as it considers options for its China business, including a possible stake sale, according to people familiar with the matter.
In Europe, stocks were dragged down by the retreat in energy prices, with the Stoxx 600 Index losing 0.4%. Increased oil flows from Iran would add to a potential glut in energy supply.
Some of the main moves in markets:
This story was produced with the assistance of Bloomberg Automation.
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