Is the world economy flashing warning signs?

via Reuters.

Asian stocks declined for a third consecutive day on Friday as fresh falls in commodities raised concerns about the health of the global economy, though the euro bucked the broad weakness on receding concerns about France's presidential election.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS fell 0.4 percent on Friday and was trading at its lowest level since April 25.

Hong Kong .HSI led regional losers with losses of 0.8 percent in opening trades. Australian shares fell 0.5 percent with metals and mining related stocks leading the decline.

Japan .N225 and South Korea .KS11 markets are closed for trading.

"The falls in commodities prices definitely tell us there is some kind of a moderation under way in the global economy and I would advise taking some money off the table at these levels," said Cliff Tan, East Asia head of global markets research at Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ in Hong Kong.

And then this.

 Oil plunged to five-month lows on Thursday amid record trading volume in Brent crude, as OPEC and other producers appeared to rule out deeper supply cuts to reduce the world's persistent glut of crude. [O/R]

"The rout in markets is unlikely to turn around quickly," ANZ strategists wrote in a daily note. "Oil markets face further potentially bearish data, with the U.S. rig count likely to add to the bearishness."

The weakness in commodities washed over to stocks, countering some fairly solid earnings reports and some cautious optimism about U.S. President Donald Trump's reform plans after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a healthcare overhaul.

Traders also remained cautious ahead of Friday's U.S. government payrolls report, following March's underwhelming 98,000 figure. Economists on average expect 185,000 jobs were created in April.

Interesting.  If you recall, we all got word that 2017 was when many economists were thinking that we would see a global turndown.  Seems like things are lining up to prove them right.

What?!!?!!

You don't remember reading any "legit" articles talking about a recession in 2017?  Check out the links below (I make this caveat...we don't know what tomorrow brings...these predictions could be off...way off)...

 http://www.pbs.org/newshour/making-sense/get-ready-economic-recession-coming-2017/

http://fortune.com/2017/04/10/recession-saxo-bank-economist/

http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2016/10/economist-explains-5