FINANCIAL CRASH WARNING: Signs major stock markets could be about to IMPLODE

FINANCIAL CRASH WARNING: Signs major stock markets could be about to IMPLODE

SOURCE

STOCK markets in Britain and the US have once again hit record highs this week, but experts have warned this could be the calm before a crushing storm. 

Britain's FTSE 100 has now rocketed by a whopping 20 per cent over the last year, hitting new top levels of 7,598 again today.

At the same time, America's Dow Jones, S&P500 and Nasdaq have seen large gains and hit fresh records this week.

But there are signs that these highs could be about to be reversed. 

1. Summer

Stock markets tend to be more volatile in the summer months in part due to lower volume levels, which can mean losses for investors.

June is worst month for returns from the UK FTSE-All Share market, and is the only month of the year to see more losses than gains over the last 30 years, according to analysis by Hargreaves Lansdown.

The average return in June is -0.7 per cent with investors only seeing a profit 43 per cent of the time.

 

2. US is raising interest rates

Another factor that could take the wind out of stocks are rising interest rates in the US.

Globally low interest rates since the financial crisis have helped boost stock markets.

But the US Federal Reserve has started increasing interest rates amid higher inflation and a stronger economy.

And other central banks including the Bank of England and the European Central Bank could also start to move towards raising rates, which could knock stocks.

Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst at Forex.com, said: "Up until now interest rates had been falling, which made higher-yielding equities the obvious choice for investment, along with property.

"Now that the Fed has started to tighten its policy, the impact of low interest rates are diminishing.

"In the event central banks overcook global inflation with their still extra-ordinary loose policy stances, they may be forced to raise interest rates a lot quicker than would otherwise be the case.

"This in turn will rapidly increase borrowing costs for consumers and businesses, which could hurt profits and share prices in some sectors of the economy."

 

3. Valuations and technicals

A number of stocks in the US are thought to be overvalued - and it is just a few, mainly tech stocks, that are keeping momentum upwards.

Mr Razaqzada added: "A growing number of S&P 500 stocks are below their 200-day moving averages as the index charges forward into unchartered territories.

"This suggests that the markets are held up by only a handful of winning stocks.

"Once cracks start to appear in the leaders, things could unravel really quickly."

He added: "At the moment the bulls are in full control, but there is a danger that the tide will soon turn."