Stocks fell on Friday as another week of volatile trading came to a close with uncertainty over the health of the global economy and the impact of the trade war continuing to grip financial markets. Wall Street was lower in early trading and markets across Asia and Europe also tumbled. Friday’s data came just days after weaker-than-expected trade figures were also released by the world’s second largest economy. Stocks were buoyed earlier this week by signs of a thaw between China and the United States that suggested Beijing and Washington are making progress toward a trade deal. That thaw continued on Friday, with China pledging to cut tariffs on imports of American-made cars starting in the new year.

Source: New York Times December 14, 2018 13:05 UTC