NEW YORK, March 9 ― World stock markets declined yesterday after weak data from China reignited concerns about a slowing global economy and oil prices pulled back from recent sharp gains.

China's February trade performance was worse than economists expected, with exports tumbling the most in over six years, days after leaders sought to reassure investors the outlook for the world's second-largest economy remains solid.

“The data this morning has dampened sentiment more so than anything else at this point in terms of confirming some of the concerns regarding growth in China,” said Ryan Larson, head of US equity trading at RBC Global Asset Management in Chicago.

Weighing on oil prices, Goldman Sachs suggested the recent rally was unsustainable and analysts predicted US stockpiles reached record highs again last week.

Brent crude futures settled at US$39.65 (RM162.96) a barrel, down US$1.19, or 2.9 per cent, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures dropped US$1.40, or 3.7 per cent, to settle at US$36.50.

The declines came a day after Brent and US crude settled at their highest levels since December.

In the US stock market, energy shares led the way lower. The S&P energy index dropped 4.1 per cent, while shares of Exxon Mobil were off 2.2 per cent at US$82.63.

The Dow Jones industrial average was down 109.85 points, or 0.64 per cent, to 16,964.1, the S&P 500  lost 22.5 points, or 1.12 per cent, to 1,979.26 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 59.43 points, or 1.26 per cent, to 4,648.83.

US stocks had sold off sharply at the start of the year amid worries about weakness in China and its impact on the global economy, but major indexes have retraced much of those losses in recent weeks.

MSCI's all-country world stock index was down 0.9 per cent, while in Europe, the pan-regional FTSEurofirst 300 index ended down 0.9 per cent.

US Treasury yields fell in line with Japanese yields after the weak Chinese data, which increased demand for safe-haven US government debt.

The benchmark 10-year note was last up 22/32 in price to yield 1.829 per cent, down from 1.904 per cent late on Monday.

The Treasury Department sold US$24 billion of 3-year notes to surprisingly disappointing demand as investors had expected the general flight to safety mood in the market to drive more investors to the US auction.

“Cheap outright levels weren't enough to bring in buyers, said Aaron Kohli, an interest rate strategist at BMO Capital Markets in New York.

In the foreign exchange market, news of deterioration in China's trade balance stoked safe-haven demand for the yen.

The dollar was down 0.8 per cent at ¥112.56, while the euro slipped 0.8 per cent at ¥123.92.

The euro's move was further limited ahead of a European Central Bank policy meeting tomorrow, when traders expect the bank to embark on more stimulus to support a wobbly euro zone economy.

Investors are uncertain how far it will go. Euro bears are cautious about positioning for bold action, having been badly burned previously when the ECB disappointed by choosing to take more modest easing steps.

Gold prices edged lower, with spot gold down 0.4 per cent at US$1,262.46 an ounce. ― Reuters