As in the currency market, limited intervention risks backfiring, while large-scale intervention would stoke fears about inflation.

It could stoke fears about the depth and duration of a slowdown that started early in the year.

Pope Francis has issued a stark warning against those who stoke fears over migrants, refugees or asylum seekers.

If this condition were to persist, it could stoke fears in markets that policymakers are losing control of short-term interest rates, analysts said.

That challenge will stoke fears that the territory's "one country, two systems" regime, which has another 27 years to run, is being undermined.