Wall Street and Asia slide on growth fears

Shares in the US and across Asia fell overnight as investors fretted over the outlook for global growth, amid weak data from the US.

Major markets saw shares tumble as investors considered the possibility there may not be any more stimulus from the Fed if US unemployment data strengthens. Although on the face of it lower unemployment would be positive, investors are concerned the withdrawal of the stimulus that has lifted markets this year could cause them to sell off. Elsewhere, a lower than expected durable goods order in the US also hurt sentiment, with resources stocks in particular feeling the impact, while a sliding oil price hit the world's largest producers. As a result, shares closed lower, with the Dow...