Global stocks sink before U.S. Congress votes on deal to avoid debt default

Global stock markets sank Wednesday ahead of a vote by the U.S. Congress on a deal to avert a government debt default, while a downturn in Chinese factory activity deepened, adding to signs that the world's economic activity is weakening.

Global stock markets sank Wednesday ahead of a vote by the U.S. Congress on a deal to avert a government debt default, while a downturn in Chinese factory activity deepened, adding to signs that the world's economic activity is weakening.

Markets in London, Shanghai, Paris and Tokyo retreated. Oil prices declined.

Wall Street's benchmark S&P 500 index edged up less than 0.1% on Tuesday as President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy of the House of Representatives tried to line up votes to raise the amount the government is allowed to borrow. Officials warn the Treasury will run out of money as soon as next week, which would roil the economy and financial markets.

"Any upcoming obstacle to a smooth pass-through of the deal could still trigger some de-risking," Yeap Jun Rong of IG said in a report.

On Wednesday, an official Chinese survey of manufacturers found activity contracted in May on weak global and domestic consumer demand.

In early trading, the FTSE 100 in London lost 0.1% to 7,514.18 and the CAC 40 in Paris sank 0.4% to 7,178.13. The DAX in Frankfurt retreated 0.3% to 15,868.35.

On Wall Street, futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average were off 0.2% ahead of a vote by the full 435-member House on raising the government debt limit. Some legislators object to spending cuts in the plan while others want bigger reductions.