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Stocks, Oil Prices, US Dollar Fall on Investor Worries About US Election

by VOA News

   Investor worries that Donald Trump might win the U.S. presidency caused
   a sharp sell-off of stocks in Asian markets and pushed down futures
   prices for U.S. markets Wednesday morning. The value of the U.S. dollar
   and oil prices also fell, while traders moved money into safe-haven
   investments like gold.

   At one point, Japan's Nikkei plunged 5.8 percent, while Hong Kong's
   Hang Seng dropped 3.8 percent. U.S. stock futures were off by 4 percent
   or more.

   Markets reacted to projections by U.S. television networks that Trump
   would win more states than expected. Most public opinion polls had
   previously predicted a victory by Democrat Hillary Clinton. Republican
   Trump's promises to drastically change U.S. trade, tax and other
   policies raised uncertainties that rattled investors.

   Analysts say uncertainty can slow the economy because worried
   businesses delay investments to avoid additional risk.