Il Nuovo Postiglione - Global stocks slide as traders eye more US rate hikes

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday publishes minutes from its last policy meeting, likely to offer clues on the outlook for US borrowing costs.

The dollar rose against the euro and pound but dipped against the yen ahead of the release.

Oil and European gas prices both fell on renewed recession risks.

"The higher (US) interest rates stay, the less relative appeal stocks have, particularly as we are about to hit some serious earnings headwinds," Neil Wilson, analyst at trading firm Finalto, told AFP.

The minutes will be closely scrutinised "in the wake of data showing a more resilient (US) labour market and stickier inflation than many had expected", he added.

Adding to the dark mood were downbeat 2023 projections from retail titans Walmart and Home Depot, which Tuesday noted the impact of inflation and higher interest rates on consumer health.

But recent data has shown the US economy to be resilient, essentially putting to bed any talk of the Fed pausing its rate hikes and even cutting rates by the end of the year.

"A tight labour market and resilient consumer demand could goad the Federal Reserve to maintain its rate hiking campaign into the summertime," said Jeffrey Roach, chief economist for LPL Financial.

"Investors should expect volatility until markets and central bankers come to agreement on the expected path for interest rates."

All three main New York indices plunged Tuesday, with data showing the US economy remained in rude health despite almost a year of rate hikes and elevated inflation.

- Key figures around 1200 GMT -

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 1.1 percent at 7,886.70 points

Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.8 percent at 15,282.21

Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 1.0 percent at 7,238.75

EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.9 percent at 4,210.41

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.3 percent at 27,104.32 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.5 percent at 20,423.84 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.5 percent at 3,291.15 (close)

New York - Dow: DOWN 2.1 percent at 33,129.59 (close)

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0635 from $1.0648 on Tuesday

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2084 from $1.2112

Euro/pound: UP at 88.01 pence from 87.91 pence

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 134.83 yen from 135.01 yen

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.8 percent at $75.72 per barrel

Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.9 percent at $82.28 per barrel

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M.Lombardi--INP