In US markets, Major indicies fell after energy shares dropped ahead of an expected shift in Federal Reserve policy that could lead to higher interest rates. Financial shares dropped on the back of fall in JPMorgan Chase & Co shares after a person familiar with the matter said that the bank was the target of a federal bribery investigation into whether it hired the children of to Chinese officials to help win business.
On the European front, the British benchmark indices fell on a decline in major mining stocks as the copper prices fell after three weeks of gains and a fall in Glencore Xstrata shares on expectations of a write-down on its assets. The persistent concerns of a reduction in US economic stimulus measures pushed the indicies further downwards.
Nikkei opened on a negative note during morning session with overnight losses in US markets on the back of persistent concerns of a reduction in US economic stimulus measures along with selling pressure after long-term interest rates in the US rose overnight to the highest level in two years and after signs of Asian economic weakness sparked a rout in emerging-market shares.