Global equities traded sharply lower as risk aversion intensified across regions, while volatility spiked. In the US, technology and growth stocks led the sell-off: the Nasdaq fell 1.59%, the S&P 500 declined 1.23%, and the Dow Jones dropped 1.20%. Broader market stress was evident as the Russell 2000 slid 1.79%, signalling pressure on small caps. At the same time, the VIX surged 16.8% to 21.77, reflecting heightened investor uncertainty. The US Dollar Index edged up 0.05, underscoring a defensive shift.
Europe mirrored the weak tone, with all major indices in the red. The FTSE 100 slipped 0.90%, DAX fell 0.46%, CAC 40 declined 0.29%, and the Euro Stoxx index dropped 0.75%, pointing to broad-based selling rather than stock-specific weakness.
Asian markets saw deeper losses, led by Korea’s KOSPI plunging 3.13%, the Hang Seng falling 1.71%, and Australia’s ASX down 1.87%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 eased 0.38%, while India’s S&P BSE Sensex declined 0.60%, reflecting spillover from global risk-off cues.
Overall, the synchronized decline across the US, Europe, and Asia—combined with a sharp jump in volatility—signals growing caution around global growth, earnings outlooks, and macro uncertainty, with investors rotating decisively toward safety.
