- A sizeable platter of risk events hammered global stock markets today.
- The Dow endured a massive setback as coronavirus fears prompted the U.S. to raise its travel advisory warning against visiting China.
- Aside from fears of a global pandemic, the Dow Jones must grapple with Bernie Sanders ’rise, a weakening housing market, and recession indicators flashing red.
The Dow Jones plunged when the opening bell rang on Monday , then tracked sideways for the majority of the session. While the coronavirus outbreak dealt the stock market the fatal blow, investors had plenty of other reasons to remain cautious.
From surprising twists in Trump’s impeachment saga and the Democratic primary to unexpected weakness in the US housing market, Dow bulls must stomach a bitter risk cocktail that could linger long after “coronavirus” fades from the headlines.
Dow Swoons While Stock Market Volatility Soars
Among the three major U.S. stock market indices , the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 580 fell in lock-step while the Nasdaq underperformed.
Shortly before the close, the Dow had collapsed by 580) points or 1. (% to slide to
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The S&P (declined by 1.) %, while the Nasdaq plunged 1. % to round out a volatile day for US stocks.
The volatility spike spurred a substantial movement in commodities, and safe-havens rose across the board. The price of gold rallied 0.5% to $ 1, , while the Japanese yen gained 0. % against an already firm US dollar.
Crude oil took a substantial 2.5% knock, while copper fell more than 3% on the day.
Digital asset bitcoin appeared to enjoy the market turmoil , rallying 3.1%, and the offshore Chinese yuan (CNH / USD) slipped 0.8%.
Coronavirus an Unexpected Headwind for the Dow
The Wuhan coronavirus continues to dominate the news cycle, and it is quite clear that the fear index remains at elevated levels.
The number of confirmed U.S. cases continues to hover at five, but some lawmakers are advocating for a travel ban from China to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
This may have prompted a federal decision to officially warn travelers to “reconsider” traveling to China.
Donald Trump is unlikely to support the travel ban, given that he is currently on a charm offensive with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
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U.S. Housing Market Shows Rare Sign Of Weakness
Other pain-points for the Dow Jones came from less clear sources, including the U.S. housing market.
Housing data appear to be suffering from a rare influx of gravity, with new home sales dropping unexpectedly to a five-month low .
While not directly linked to the stock market, housing is an excellent indicator of sentiment in the domestic economy, as well as the health of the all-important consumer.
Bernie Sanders Has Become a Major Worry on Wall Street
Dow bulls also had to evaluate some market-hostile developments in domestic politics.
Fueled by an extremely active base and impressive fundraising, Bernie Sanders has fought his way to the top of the Democratic presidential field.
Moderate Joe Biden is once again losing ground, and the left-wing senator from Vermont poses a Serious threat to the US financial establishment .
Strategist: Global Growth Was Already Slowing Before China Epidemic ‘Black Swan’
Komal Sri-Kumar, president and investment strategist at Sri-Kumar Global Strategies, told CNBC that while the coronavirus outbreak may be a “black swan” event , it’s not the only major threat to global growth.
The point is that people say this is a black swan event and, had it not happened, [markets] wouldn’t have come down. The problem is there are always five or six major black swan events floating around, and any one of them could happen…
Global growth was already slowing, and this is just one more development in the pot.
With new Brexit roadblocks
and the John Bolton impeachment bombshell both hitting the newswires today, Sri-Kumar’s warning feels especially relevant.
Trendlines and Treasury Yields Give Dow Bulls More Headaches
Shifting from fundamental catalysts to technical stock market indicators, the 2-year and 5-year Treasury yield curve (a popular recession canary) inverted for the first time since December 4th
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Even more concerning, the Dow’s sharp pullback came directly after the index made brief contact with the upper band of a century-long trendline.
(There were plenty of heavy losses in the Dow today.
Mighty Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) stock fell more than 2.8%, global risk-bellwether Caterpillar dove 3%, and another company with huge exposure to China – Nike – suffered a 1. (% hit.)
Boeing stock was another high-profile loser, dragging 1.7% on the index.
It was not all doom and gloom, though.
Defensive play Walmart moved 1.2% higher, while pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson clawed their way into the green. Some of the interest in these drug-makers is based on hopes that one of them manages to come up with a desperately needed coronavirus vaccine .
(This article was edited by Josiah Wilmoth
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