US and European stocks slumped Thursday as investors weighed another wave of corporate results, economic data and the likelihood of another interest rate cut.

The lack of US data and the ongoing government shutdown is starting to make investors nervous, said Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at investing and trading platform IG.

Investors and policymakers alike have been left in a fog as the shutdown of much of the US government has delayed the release of key data on employment, trade, retail sales and others.

"Financial markets find themselves groping around in the dark, a point echoed by FOMC member Goolsbee, who remains nervous about cutting rates without data to go on," said Beauchamp

Chicago Federal Reserve President Austan Goolsbee, who has been supportive of lowering interes

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