The 3 fears sinking global markets: how much reason for worry?

London

JANUARY is usually expected to be a good month for stock markets, with new money gushing into investment funds, while tax-related selling abates at the end of the year.

Although the data on investment returns in the United States show that January profits have historically been only slightly better than the monthly norm, the widespread belief in a bullish "January effect" has made the weakness of stock markets around the world this year all the more shocking.