* Graphic: World FX rates in 2019 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
By Ritvik Carvalho
LONDON, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Global stocks dipped on Monday
after the United States and China imposed new tariffs on each
other's goods, reinforcing investors' worries over slowing
global growth, with no clear end in sight for the trade war.
MSCI's All-Country World Index .MIWD00000PUS , which tracks
shares across 47 countries, was down 0.1% on the day.
European shares rose cautiously, driven by a rally in
miners, although sentiment remained fragile in the light of the
latest round of tit-for-tat tariffs kicked off between the U.S.
and China. .EU
Washington's 15% tariffs on a variety of Chinese goods came
into effect on Sunday, while China began to implement new duties
on a $75 billion target list.
However, both sides will still meet for talks later this
month, U.S. President Donald Trump said. Trade-sensitive German shares .GDAXI were flat to slightly
higher and the pan-European stocks benchmark index STOXX 600
.STOXX was up 0.3% by 0754 GMT, beginning September higher
after a 1.6% drop in August as the trade war, which has roiled
financial markets and raised global recession fears, rages on
for more than a year.
"Despite the market's sanguine take, we believe the ultimate
outlook for the trade dispute has become harder to predict with
confidence," said Mark Haefele, chief investment officer at UBS
Global Wealth Management.
"Since trade tensions have become the major driving force
for stocks, even greater than monetary policy, we advise against
adding significantly to equity exposure – particularly for those
who have an adequate strategic allocation."
Haefele added that income-generating carry positions such as
select emerging market currencies will perform well as central
banks ease policy in response to weaker growth.
Euro zone manufacturing activity contracted for a seventh
month in August as a continued decline in demand sapped
optimism, a survey showed, likely strengthening expectations for
monetary easing from the European Central Bank next week.
At their July meeting policymakers at the ECB all but
promised to ease policy further as the bloc's growth outlook
worsens.
Italian bond yields fell towards recent multi-year lows
after Italy's prime minister said at the weekend he was
confident that he could finalise talks on a new government by
Wednesday. GVD/EUR
The 5-Star Movement and the Democratic Party (PD) were in
intense discussions over the weekend to hammer out a deal on a
common agenda and Cabinet posts. In currency markets, the dollar was flat against a basket of
peers. .DXY .
The euro was 0.05% lower at $1.0985 EUR= , not far from
two-year low of $1.0963 hit in U.S. trade on Friday.
U.S. markets were shut for a holiday on Monday.
TRADE WAR
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan
.MIAPJ0000PUS dropped 0.24%, led by 0.5% drop in Hong Kong's
Hang Seng .HSI after another weekend of violent
anti-government protests.
Chinese shares, however, bucked the bearish trend, with the
CSI300 index .CSI300 rising 1.1% despite the trade row
escalation. Providing some tailwind to mainland markets was a
pledge by China's State Council to boost support for the
economy. Caixin/Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index
(PMI), a private sector survey, on Monday showed factory
activity unexpectedly expanded in August, though gains were
modest and contrasted with official data that pointed to further
contraction. Washington slapped tariffs on a variety of Chinese goods -
including footwear, smart watches and flat-panel televisions -
while Beijing imposed new duties on U.S. crude, the latest
escalation in a bruising trade war. Several studies suggest the tariffs will cost U.S.
households up to $1,000 a year, with the latest round hitting a
significant number of U.S. consumer goods.
Many market players say the market's reaction was likely
exaggerated by algorithm-driven players' flows in thin trading
conditions at start of Asian trade on Monday.
Liquidity could be even more limited than usual because of a
U.S. market holiday on Monday.
"(The market move) goes to show you how many data mining
algos are involved with equity-linked compared to forex-linked.
Was anyone surprised by these tariffs that took effect
yesterday?" said Takeo Kamai, head of execution at CLSA in
Tokyo.
Tension is also running high in Hong Kong, with police and
protesters clashing in some of the most intense violence since
unrest erupted more than three months ago over concerns Beijing
is undermining democratic freedoms in the territory. Thousands of protesters blocked roads and public transport
links to Hong Kong airport and police made several arrests after
demonstrators smashed CCTV cameras and lamps with metal poles
and dismantled station turnstiles.
China, eager to quell the unrest before the 70th anniversary
of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct. 1, has
accused foreign powers, particularly the United States and
Britain, of fomenting the unrest.
Oil prices also fell on Monday.
Brent crude LCOc1 futures fell 0.30% to $59.07 a barrel
while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1
were 0.1% lower at $55.