Singapore

MARKETS are so nervous that talk of a fourth round of quantitative easing (QE4) - previously unheard of - is now making the rounds.

Until about a month ago, Wall Street had hit dozens of all-time highs since the start of the year - some in quick succession - with analysts proclaiming stocks to be in a "sweet spot" because the US Federal Reserve had repeatedly assured markets that growth was on track, inflation was not an issue and interest rates would not be raised for many months yet. The Fed is also planning to end its QE stimulus programme.