By Jeffrey Kleintop
In the second half of the year, stock markets around the world will likely have to contend with slowing global economic growth. Leading indicators point to the rising risk of recession. Pressures are building up that may weigh on stock markets, including:
- escalating trade tariffs between the U.S. and China
- the United Kingdom heading toward a "hard" Brexit
- renewed U.S geopolitical tensions with Venezuela, Iran and North Korea
- the lagged effect of interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve
- the slump in corporate earnings
Individually, these "straws" may not be enough to