In European Equity Markets China’s Shanghai composite retraced some of its early losses of more than 2.5 percent to trade down 1.32 percent. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index fell 1.81 percent. Meanwhile, Japan’s Nikkei 225 traded down 2.8 percent after seeing losses of more than 3 percent earlier. The Topix index fell by 2.32 percent. In South Korea, the Kospi fell 2.21 percent, with shares of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix both declining by more than 2.5 percent each. Australia’s ASX 200 fell 2.24 percent, with most sectors declining.

In Currency Markets the Japanese yen rose against the dollar on Thursday as a rout on Wall Street and weak European and U.S. economic data dented global risk sentiment, sending investors scurrying to safe-haven assets including government bonds. The yen, seen as a safety-bet during times of market turmoil and economic stress, advanced 0.2 percent to trade at 112.06 on the dollar on Thursday. The pound traded marginally higher versus the dollar at $1.2887, after losing 0.78 percent of its value on Wednesday and hitting a six-week low of 1.2865.

In Commodities Markets oil prices fell by around one percent on Thursday, coming under pressure from sharp selloffs in global stock markets. Front-month Brent crude oil futures were at $75.42 a barrel, 75 cents, or 1 percent, below their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $66.23 a barrel, 59 cents, or 0.9 percent, below their last settlement. WTI has fallen nearly 10 percent so far this month, while Brent is down nearly 9 percent.

In US Equity Markets stocks fell again on Wednesday, confirming a correction for the Nasdaq and erasing the Dow and the S&P 500’s gains for the year, as disappointing forecasts from chip-makers and weak home sales data fueled jitters about economic and profit growth. The Nasdaq closed down 12.4 percent from its Aug. 29 record closing high, falling 4.4 percent for the day in its biggest one-day percentage decline since Aug. 18, 2011. The S&P 500 lost 3.09 percent, to 2,656.1. Texas Instruments fell 8.2 percent, helping pull the Philadelphia Semiconductor index down 6.6 percent.

In Bond Markets U.S. benchmark 10-year Treasury yields fell to three-week lows on Wednesday, weighed down by weakness in stocks and ongoing political uncertainty ahead of the U.S. congressional elections. U.S. five-year and seven-year yields fell to three-week lows as well, while those on two-year notes fell to a nearly two-week trough. Benchmark 10-year note yields fell to 3.105 percent from 3.166 percent late on Tuesday. Ten-year yields earlier fell to 3.102 percent, a three-week low. U.S. 30-year yields fell to 3.333 percent from Tuesday’s 3.364 percent.