ASX 200 slides as US GDP growth sparks tapering worries The Australian share market has opened 0.7 per cent lower as US GDP growth set investors worrying the Federal Reserve would begin stimulus tapering. At 10.11am AEDT the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was down 38.9 points, or 0.72 per cent, at 5383.1, while the broader All Ordinaries index was down 38.2 points, or 0.70 per cent, at 5377.2. IG strategist Stan Shamu had tipped 0.7 per cent opening fall to a two-week low of 5382 after the S&P 500 fell 1.3 per cent as stronger-than-expected US GDP data for the third quarter sparked concern that the Fed could soon begin reducing its quantitative easing. US GDP grew at an annual rate of 2.8 per cent in the third quarter, well ahead of the 1.9 per cent growth expected by analysts. Analysts said the strong headline number masked weakness in consumer spending and other areas. Nevertheless, "the market is looking at it as a strong number," David Levy, portfolio manager at Kenjol Capital Management, said. The ASX 200 closed down 0.2 per cent at 5422 yesterday.