FACTBOX: Stock markets worldwide decline in 2008
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Out of 52 developed and emerging world stock markets, 49 were lower year-to-date through January 21, according to Standard & Poor's.
Of the 49 stock markets that were lower, 43 had double-digit declines. Only Nigeria, Jordan and Morocco had gains.
"What the current trend of thought appears to have forgotten is that the U.S. is still the 800-pound gorilla," Howard Silverblatt, senior index analyst for S&P said in a commentary written last week. "While the growth is abroad, the major consumption, spending and markets are still in the U.S. America getting a cold may no longer cause the world to get pneumonia, but it certainly will cause a lot more than just the sniffles."
Below is the price-only percentage change of 52 global markets through the close of local markets on January 21, calculated in U.S. dollar terms.
S&P/Citigroup Global Equity Indices.
YTD stock change through January 21: REGION YTD REGION YTD World -12.40 Emerging Markets -13.90 Australia -13.67 Argentina -17.99 Austria -18.44 Brazil -20.92 Belgium -18.07 Chile -16.76 Canada -16.42 China -16.77 Denmark -18.67 Colombia -19.96 Finland -19.89 Czech Republic -14.84 France -16.64 Egypt -6.00 Germany -17.42 Hungary -14.65 Greece -16.46 India -16.20 Hong Kong -12.71 Indonesia -11.73 Iceland -20.61 Israel -4.36 Ireland -10.52 Jordan 3.96 Italy -13.30 Malaysia -2.46 Japan -7.70 Mexico -16.25 Luxembourg -23.93 Morocco 6.39 Netherlands -17.99 Nigeria 0.40 New Zealand -12.51 Pakistan -2.34 Norway -23.88 Peru -16.55 Portugal -16.60 Philippines -13.06 Singapore -16.12 Poland -22.27 South Korea -11.90 Russia -12.96 Spain -17.23 Slovenia -12.58 Sweden -16.94 South Africa -14.49 Switzerland -12.02 Taiwan -5.04 United Kingdom -15.52 Thailand -10.29 United States -10.12 Turkey -20.49 NOTE: U.S. stock markets were closed on January 21 for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day. (Reporting by Cal Mankowski; Editing by Tom Hals)
