LONDON — An alarming spread of street protests and civil unrest across the world in recent weeks looms large on the radar of financial markets, with investors wary the resulting pressures on stretched government finances will be one of many consequences. Money managers and risk analysts seeking a common thread between often unconnected sources of popular anger - in Hong Kong, Beirut, Cairo, Santiago and beyond - reckon the unrest is particularly worrying following years of modest global economic growth and relatively low joblessness. If, as many fear, the world is slipping back into its first recession in more than a decade, then the root causes of restive streets will only deepen and force embattled governments to loosen purse strings further to fund better employment, education, healthcare and other services to placate them. Forced fiscal loosening in a world already swamped with debt and heading into another downturn may unnerve creditors and bond holders, especially those holding government debt as an insurance against recession and a haven from volatility.

Source: International New York Times October 24, 2019 19:18 UTC