Coronavirus fears continue to drive investors
It’s been a truly chaotic couple of weeks in financial markets, with the number coronavirus cases and fatalities accelerating outside of China, prompting authorities around the world to up their game.
This week, it was the Fed that set the tempo, cutting interest rates by 0.5% outside of a scheduled meeting. The move got people’s attention but did little to quench the thirst of investors who demanded more. Several other rate cuts around the world combined with pledges from the IMF and World Bank was just enough to prevent a full blown meltdown but it’s only half time.
Authorities will have to do much more in the coming weeks. Already, another 0.5% rate cut is priced in from the Fed and much more is expected from governments around the world.
Country
UK
UK trade talks with the EU are going exactly as you would expect in these early stages. There’s huge gaps between what both sides would like the future relationship to look like and frictions are growing by the day. It’s all-too familiar by now though and, understandably, hasn’t really been making the headlines it may otherwise have.
Next week we’ll get the budget from the new Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, which comes at a time when many are pondering the prospects of a coronavirus-driven recession for the UK. These budgets have become quite dull affairs in recent years but this one may be a little different for numerous reasons. The Bank of England has also been very quiet as other central banks have eased monetary policy to support the economy. Policy makers may just be waiting for the next meeting although maximum impact could arguably come alongside an expansionary budget.
US
We are under two weeks from the next FOMC meeting and that along with coronavirus incremental updates will remain the key focal point for many traders. All of Wall Street is trying to price in what will the Fed do on March 18th. Money markets are pricing in another 50-basis point cut and if that expectations remains in place, the freefall with Treasury yields could continue. The virus fallout trade has provided some eye-dropping moves and that volatility could persist. The overall risk aversion theme could remain in place until we start to see Treasury yields stabilize.
The bond market has delivered some historic moves and the Fed could very well see their debt join the negative yielding club. While it still seems unlikely the 10-year yield will fall to negative territory, the majority of the curve could in fact trade negative.
Investors could remain fixated with the bond and volatility trade until financial markets have a firm grasp of the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak rippling across the world. The dollar could remain in the house of pain as the high carry trade has been wiped away with sudden shift with rate expectations. The dollar is slowly becoming a funding currency and could remain vulnerable until the Fed signals they are done cutting.
US Politics
On March 10th, the next major wave of Democratic primaries is up for grabs. Former-VP Joe Biden looks to keep the momentum going with strong wins in Michigan and Missouri. Bernie Sanders needs a strong outing following his Super Tuesday setback. Wall Street would prefer to see Biden win the Democratic nomination and if he wins most of Tuesday’s 352 delegates, insiders will say he has it in the bag.
China
Feb Balance of Trade released over the weekend. Expected to collapse from $47.0 bio to $$13.0 bio, but most of the bad news seems priced into China for now. New coronavirus cases are plummeting.
Better than expected BoT could cause an upward surprise. A resurgence of coronavirus cases, especially outside of Hubei, could cause a sudden currency and stock sell-off.
Hong Kong
Economy mired in a deep recession due to coronavirus slowdown. On the plus side, protests have subsided to almost nil. No significant data or events next week.
Negative headlines from China and/or the US will impact the stock market negatively. India Yes Bank, the 5th largest private bank in India was taken over by the government today. Depositors limited to INR 50,000 withdrawals. ($700). Been on the cards for a while but will negatively impact stocks in India and may see credit markets freezing there.
Ongoing protests over citizenship laws weigh on investor sentiment. Remarkably low incidence of coronavirus cases so far. No data of significance. Risk A sudden spurt of coronavirus cases overwhelms health system. Fall in INR and Nifty as investors flee.
Australia
Consumer confidence released Tues and Wed, but bad news priced in. High beta to China and with 30% of its exports, acutely exposed to serious slowdown there. Currency under sustained pressure after RBA cut this week. Rally in stockmarkets has halted the slide for now. Signs of panic buying of consumer staples. Risk A jump in risk aversion sentiment (probably due to coronavirus) could see AUD sell-off resume with force and also hit the stock market.
New Zealand
Very quiet on the data front next week, with high beta to China the main risk.
Japan
GDP released Monday, expected to collapse to -1.6-%. Grappling alongside South Korea with some of the highest numbers of coronavirus infections. Schools closed, Olympics could be postponed. A new stimulus package may be announced next week. Risk Worse than expected GDP fall from coronavirus slowdown sees Nikkei fall aggressively. Yen strongly appreciated over the last week on repatriation/haven flows. That could accelerate if the virus situation does not improve domestically, or most importantly, it accelerates internationally.
Market
USD
The dollar has been smashed over the last couple of weeks as the coronavirus spread dramatically increased the probability of rate cuts and the central bank obliged earlier this week with an emergency 50 basis points outside of the normal meeting. A similar cut is now likely in a couple of weeks and quantitative easing is likely to be back on the table.
Oil
Oil has been slammed again at the end of an already dreadful week after OPEC and its allies failed to come to an agreement on both an extension and an increase. The current cuts expire at the end of March, after which there will be no more restrictions. I doubt this is the end of the discussion, with Saudi Arabia in particular keen to prevent prices falling too far.
Gold
Gold was just starting to act rationally again, rallying as risk aversion grew and global central banks pumped stimulus into the system. The dollar dropping to a 12-month low also aided the effort. And then Friday afternoon arrived and gold started falling again even as the other conditions showed no improved.
It was suggested that last week’s dislocation in gold may have come as a result of loss covering or margin calls. Whatever the reason, the dislocation is clearly not a thing of the past in these volatile markets and we can probably expect more of this kind of behaviour.
Bitcoin
Bitcoin has been fairly stable by its standards at a time when the rest of the market is losing its head. It’s traded between $8,000 and $9,000 for more than a week and while it’s trading at the top end of this range now, the lower may not be out of the woods just yet. It’s certainly represents the greater risk after the market appeared to top of in the near term just above $10,000. As ever though, this is a highly unpredictable market.
