Seoul Gazette - European stocks slip on stagflation fear, before US data

London equities retreated 0.2 percent one day after the BoE unveiled a half-point interest rate hike and forecast UK inflation topping 13 percent on surging domestic energy bills.

The hike followed more aggressive monetary policy from the European Central Bank and US Federal Reserve as authorities crack down on rampant inflation in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

India on Friday lifted borrowing costs for the third time in four months to the highest level since summer 2019.

Back in the eurozone, Frankfurt stocks slipped 0.1 percent and Paris sank 0.5 percent, despite modest gains in Asia.

Oil prices held steady, one day after WTI crude fell to the level where it had stood before the Ukraine conflict sent the market soaring.

- 'Stagflation awaits' -

"The dire warnings from the BoE are impossible to ignore as other central banks desperately try to avoid a similar fate," OANDA analyst Craig Erlam told AFP.

"It seems only a matter of time until others are forced to accept that a recession is the price to pay for getting inflation under control."

He added: "A period of stagflation now awaits the UK -- and others may not be far behind as the crushing impact of energy prices wreaks havoc on living standards and saps demand."

Stagflation is a toxic mixture of stubbornly high consumer prices and low economic growth.

Later on Friday, traders will focus on key US non-farm payrolls (NFP) data that could stoke fears of a prolonged downturn in the world's number one economy.

"Market participants will closely scrutinize today's NFP report for any signs that weakness in activity data in the US economy is starting to spill-over into the labour market with a lag which would heighten (US) recession fears," said MUFG analyst Lee Hardman.

Asian equities mostly rose Friday, with Taipei surging on easing concerns over a conflict with Beijing -- even as China conducts its largest-ever military exercises around Taiwan in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit earlier this week.

And while many analysts are beating the drum of a global recession, traders are also hopeful of a reprieve from monetary tightening.

"The recent fall in oil prices, which are now trading below the levels immediately before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has contributed to the market's perception that inflation is likely to peak soon, taking pressure off the Fed to raise rates as aggressively," said National Australia Bank's Rodrigo Catril.

The Fed has said its rate decision will be guided by data, with signs of economic weakness seen as likely to mean any increases will be light.

Officials have said the US economy remains healthy despite four-decade high inflation and a sharp lift in borrowing costs.

- Key figures at around 1030 GMT -

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.2 percent at 7,434.14 points

Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.1 percent at 13,648.93

Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.5 at 6,479.50

EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.4 percent at 3,740.74

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.9 percent at 28,175.87 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.1 percent at 20,201.94 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: UP 1.2 percent at 3,227.03 (close)

New York - Dow: DOWN 0.3 percent at 32,726.82 (close)

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0225 from $1.0246 Thursday

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2147 from $1.2160

Euro/pound: DOWN at 84.19 pence from 84.26 pence

Dollar/yen: UP at 133.00 yen from 132.89 yen

Brent North Sea crude: FLAT at $94.11 per barrel

West Texas Intermediate: FLAT at $88.52 per barrel

burs-rfj/lcm

S. Sokolow--BTZ