Markets

Asian shares and US equities fall on coronavirus fears

Second wave of infections and underwhelming China data revive market worries

Traders work during the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street in New York City.

Mon Jun 15 2020 - 08:24

Asian shares and Wall Street futures fell on Monday as growing fears of a second wave of coronavirus infections revived economic worries, while underwhelming data from China also weighed on investor sentiment.

Monday’s losses follow a strong global rally since late March, fuelled by central bank and fiscal stimulus and optimism as countries gradually lifted restrictions put in place to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

However, concerns are now swirling about a second wave with Beijing on Monday reporting its second consecutive day of record numbers of Covid-19 cases, while new cases and hospitalisations in record numbers swept through more US states.

The risk-off sentiment is also likely to weigh on global markets, with e-Minis for the S&P 500 extending losses in Asia to be down 2.7 per cent at 6.33am GMT, from 1 per cent earlier.

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European markets were also set to open lower with pan-region Eurostoxx 50 futures and German Dax futures each dropping 2.5 per cent and FTSE futures falling 2 per cent.

“Any new outbreak will be looked at very, very cautiously by investors. The market is putting into perspective that the Covid-19 issue has not been resolved yet. It’s a reality check,” said James McGlew, analyst at stockbroker Argonaut.

McGlew expects a further correction “as markets quantify what lies ahead of us”.

Worldwide coronavirus cases have crossed 7.86 million with 430,501 deaths, according to a Reuters tally.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was down 2.3 per cent, extending its losses from 0.3 per cent earlier in the day, with Australian shares off 2.2 per cent and South Korea falling 4.8 per cent.

Japan’s Nikkei also extended losses to 3.5 per cent. Chinese shares joined the sell-off with the blue-chip CSI300 index down nearly 1 per cent.

“A more balanced assessment of economic risks and the probable recovery profile is materialising, at least in the short term. That makes it difficult to see the previous dynamism of upward momentum in risk appetite returning immediately,” ANZ Research said in a report.

Economic data from China did little to revive risk appetite.

China’s industrial output rose 4.4 per cent in May from a year ago, less than expected, while retail sales fell a larger-than-expected 2.8 per cent in a sign of weak domestic demand.

The Chinese yuan extended losses in offshore trade after the data to be last at 7.0883 per dollar.

Some analysts were still hopeful of a revival in sentiment.

“We assume that any second wave is likely to be more manageable than the first given earlier policy experience,” analysts at Morgan Stanley wrote in a note.

“Policy easing will also help Asia (excluding Japan) get back on its feet better.”

The risk-sensitive currencies of Australia hit $0.6779, the lowest level since June 2nd, after breaking below Friday’s low of $0.6800.

Elsewhere, the safe haven Japanese yen rose on the greenback to 107.17 yen.

Analysts said further tests awaited global markets this week – In particular whether re-opening hopes could still push equities higher.

Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell is also due to testify before Congress where “he may try to spin a more upbeat/hopeful outlook - but whether markets listen remains to be seen,” said Betashares chief economist David Bassanese.

Oil fell more than 3 per cent on Monday, extending losses from last week, on worries renewed outbreaks of the coronavirus could weigh on the recovery of fuel demand.

Brent crude futures fell 3.5 per cent, to $37.39 a barrel by 6.12am GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 4.9 per cent, to $34.49 a barrel.

Oil investors await OPEC+ committee meetings of experts later this week who will advise the producer group and its allies on output cuts. – Reuters

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