Markets not merry as stock losses extend into eighth day

On Sunday, President Donald Trump's Treasury secretary responded to the ongoing selloff by calling top U.S. bankers and said he would convene a group of officials known as the "Plunge Protection Team.""There are a whole number of factors that have triggered this latest risk-off climate, including the Fed's very modest deviation from its (rate increase) plan and the government shutdown in the United States," said Investec economist Philip Shaw.U.S. stocks have fallen sharply in recent weeks on co