Stock markets plummet as investors fear US recession

Markets have continued to tumble today, after weak labour market data in the US prompted fears of a recession last week. What does it mean for investors?

In this photo illustration, a chart depicting a stock market crash is displayed on a mobile phone screen.
(Image credit: Photo by Osmancan Gurdogan/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Investors have had a rough ride over the past few days, as fears of a US recession have sparked a global sell-off in equity markets.

The S&P 500 fell by more than 2% last week, while the Nasdaq fell by around 3.5%. It is Japan that is bearing the brunt, though, with the Topix down a whopping 12.23% today. Meanwhile, the FTSE 100 is down 1.94% so far today, at the time of writing. 

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Katie Williams
Staff Writer

Katie has a background in investment writing and is interested in everything to do with personal finance, politics, and investing. She enjoys translating complex topics into easy-to-understand stories to help people make the most of their money.

Katie believes investing shouldn’t be complicated, and that demystifying it can help normal people improve their lives.

Before joining the MoneyWeek team, Katie worked as an investment writer at Invesco, a global asset management firm. She joined the company as a graduate in 2019. While there, she wrote about the global economy, bond markets, alternative investments and UK equities.

Katie loves writing and studied English at the University of Cambridge. Outside of work, she enjoys going to the theatre, reading novels, travelling and trying new restaurants with friends.