WORLD stock markets are expected to face turbulence today in the wake of the Paris atrocities.
Few strategists expect a prolonged economic impact or change in prevailing market directions, and French financial markets will be open as usual.
Many analysts believe that any initial damage to economic confidence, tourism and trade within Europe will reinforce the European Central Bank’s resolve to easing monetary policy further next month, keeping pressure on the euro exchange rate.
Prior to the Paris attacks market sentiment was weak, with the UK’s FTSE 100 closing at a six-week low and Wall Street having its worst week since August. Investors may now seek traditional safe-haven investments such as gold, the US dollar and Japanese yen.
Investors in Europe and the US will be closely watching the reaction of markets in Asia and Australia when they open.
Shane Oliver, chief economist at Australia’s AMP Capital in Sydney, said there would be short-term market nervousness, but he thought the economic impact would be limited.
Analysts trying to put the event in some historical context say prior events like this in Europe over the past 15 years tended not to have any durable market or economic effects.
Meanwhile, the organisers of Euro 2016, which will see a huge influx of tourist visitors to France next summer, say the football event should not be cancelled.
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