The stock markets fall due to the intensification of tensions between the United States and China

[Inkriql]

Global exchanges recede on Thursday, while the dispute between the United States and China extends beyond trade, which reduces the possibility of signing the “phase one” of an agreement between the powers this year and leads investors to take refuge, with an increase in uncertainty.

European stocks extended their losses on Wednesday. The STOXX 600 benchmark index and the German DAX 30 indicator - highly sensitive to trade issues - yielded 0.7% for a minimum of two weeks.

Meanwhile, in Asia the picture was no less negative. The MSCI index of Asia-Pacific stocks - excluding Japan - was down 1.1% to a floor of almost three weeks, while the Hong Kong Hang Seng bench sank 1.6% and the Nikkei of the stock market Tokyo declined 0.5%. Roles in mainland China fell 0.3% on the day.

On the eve, the Wall Street stock market closed in red: the Dow Jones industrial index lost 0.4%, the Nasdaq, of technological values, fell 0.51% and the S&P 500 index fell 0.38 percent.

Citing sources from the US government, The Wall Street Journal said Wednesday that negotiations between Washington and Beijing are going through difficulties that could compromise the rapid signing of the partial agreement announced last month by President Donald Trump. If an agreement is not reached, the president has already warned that since December 15, he will apply punitive tariffs on Chinese products that have not yet been punished.

During a visit to an Apple factory in Texas, Trump said China has so far not made enough concessions in bilateral trade negotiations, so he is reluctant to close an agreement. "I don't think they are going up to the level that I want," he said bluntly.

The Senate and the US House of Representatives approved two bills this week that seek to give support to Hong Kong protesters and send a warning to China about their human rights background. Since the president is likely to enact the measures, analysts believe that this factor "could jeopardize the progress of phase one of the trade agreement," according to Jim Reid of Deutsche Bank.

Trade experts and sources close to the White House said the completion of the first stage of the agreement between the United States and China could occur next year, as Beijing is pushing for significant tariff reversals and the Trump administration is showing firm In your own requirements.

Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Liu He, who also heads the delegation of negotiators in his country to Washington, said he was "cautiously optimistic" about phase 1 of a tariff pact, according to a report by the Bloomberg news agency . As the chances of an immediate agreement dissipated, even if it was partial, investors clung to the security of sovereign bonds and refuge currencies, such as the yen.