For investors, the Hollywood writers’ strike couldn’t have come at a worse time. After all, new episodes of mindless TV shows such as How I Met Your Mother would serve as a welcome distraction from dwindling stock portfolios, bleak economic data out of the U.S., and the threat of a global slowdown.

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Feb. 29 (Bloomberg) — Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Average futures dropped in Chicago after the yen strengthened against the dollar and the U.S. economy grew slower than expected last quarter.
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BANGKOK -(Dow Jones)- The Stock Exchange of Thailand’s board has agreed to raise collateral for stock trading cash accounts to 15% from 10% effective June 1.

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Feb. 28 (Bloomberg) — Asian stocks fell for the first time this week, led by automakers and electronics manufacturers, after the yen strengthened against the dollar and on speculation new U.S. interest rate cuts won’t prevent global growth from slowing.
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Feb. 28 (Bloomberg) — Japanese stocks fell after the yen strengthened against the dollar, and factory output fell more than anticipated last month, pointing to a worsening outlook for automakers.
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