World shares sink as inflation, economic fears persist

Europe's continent-wide STOXX 600 index STOXX was down 0.75%. MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe .MIWD00000PUS was down 0.69%, as of 5:09 p.m. ET (2109 GMT). That flagship global index is nearly 20% lower for the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI fell 103.81 points, or 0.33%, to 31,730.3, the S&P 500 .SPX lost 5.1 points, or 0.13%, to 3,930.08 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 6.73 points, or 0.06%, to 11,370.96..N

NEW YORK: World equities fell on Thursday to an 18-month-low, with markets dogged by fears high inflation would persist and force central banks to keep tightening monetary policy.

In the United States, stocks ended a whipsaw session slightly lower, as investors juggled fears of nagging inflation with signs it could be peaking. The S&P 500 came within striking distance of confirming a bear market since swooning from its all-time high reached in January.