Global equities are under pressure and rate cut odds rising amid weakening economic data. Trump blames impeachment.

Ugly Start to 4th Quarter

The Wall Street Journal reports U.S. Stocks Drop on Worries About Growth

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped about 500 points Wednesday as worries about a slowdown in the U.S. economy rattled markets to start the fourth quarter.

The stock market’s declines were broad and accelerated through the morning. All 11 sectors in the S&P 500 fell, as did all but one of the 30 blue-chip stocks in the Dow. Among the biggest losers were shares of big industrial and technology companies.

FTSE 3% Decline

The Financial Times reports FTSE 100 has worst day since 2016 as global stocks extend ugly start to Q4

Rate Cut Odds Soar

(Click on image to enlarge)

A week ago, CME Fedwatch had the odds of a cut just over 50-50. Today, they are over 75%.

Half-Assed Assurances

I suspect New York Fed President John Williams did not do the markets any favors today with his half-assed assurances Fed has Recession Tools, Promises to Use them Quicker Next Time.

Long-term, such statements are meaningless even if they did affect something today.

Blame Impeachment

All of this impeachment nonsense, which is going nowhere, is driving the Stock Market, and your 401K’s, down. But that is exactly what the Democrats want to do. They are willing to hurt the Country, with only the 2020 Election in mind!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2019

New Rule

It's never about Trump unless it's good.

Thus, when you see headlines like this Manufacturing ISM Worst Since 2009 on Severe Contraction of Export Orders it is a certainty that Trump played no part of it.

Instead, the blame must be elsewhere. In this case, the global decline is clearly about impeachment.