Fears over virus flare-ups stifles global stocks

Global stocks drifted on Thursday as spiking coronavirus cases in some US states and China crushed hopes of a quick global economic comeback from the pandemic.

Several US states including Oklahoma, where President Donald Trump plans a campaign rally on Saturday, reported a surge in new coronavirus infections.

The daily count of infections also hit a new benchmark in California and Texas.

About 400 workers tested positive for the virus at an abattoir in northern Germany, prompting the closure of local schools, while China’s capital cancelled scores of flights and blocked off some neighbourhoods.

“We were worried about a second wave and you are seeing worrying signs in some states in the US, some flare-ups in Germany and China,” said Justin Onuekwusi, portfolio manager at Legal & General Investment Management. “It’s going to be a theme where we see economies having to do mini-lockdowns and isolation measures in order to contain the virus. The question is how much it affects markets.”

MSCI’s broadest index of world shares was 0.1% lower, its second day of broadly flat trading. The pan-European Stoxx 600 was 0.4% lower, as its rally earlier in the week petered out.

S&P 500 mini futures clawed back losses during Asian trade to sit 0.2% down. China’s blue-chip CSI300 shares were a bright spot, adding 0.7%, helped by reassurances from its central bank governor that the world’s second-largest economy will maintain ample financial system liquidity in the second half of the year as the economy recovers from the coronavirus.

People’s Bank of China governor Yi Gang added, however, that Beijing will need to consider withdrawing that support at some point.

US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell told legislators on Wednesday that though the world’s largest economy is beginning to recover, with about 25-million Americans displaced from work and the pandemic ongoing, it will need more help.

Some investors also worried about further paralysis in Washington as Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton accused him of sweeping misdeeds that included explicitly seeking Chinese President Xi Jinping’s help to win re-election.

Border tensions between North and South Korea, and between India and China, also helped sour sentiment for risky assets.

Investors rushed to the safety of bonds, with the 10-year US treasuries yield falling two basis points to 0.710%.

“In the near term, we have had a lot of risk-off factors, including Bolton and geopolitical tensions in Asia,” said Masahiko Loo, portfolio manager at AllianceBernstein in Tokyo.

“But on the other hand, risk assets are supported by ample liquidity from central banks. I don’t see that changing yet and do not expect major sell-off in risk assets.”

In currency markets, the safe-haven Japanese yen earlier rose about 0.2% to 106.81/$, while the US dollar also firmed against risk-sensitive currencies.

The euro was also little changed against the greenback at $1.1249.

The British pound traded in a narrow range before a Bank of England meeting where policymakers are expected to expand quantitative easing in the face of a weakening economy and tough trade negotiations with the EU.

The Australian dollar fell 0.3% to $0.6864, hit by worse than expected employment data.

The unemployment rate jumped to the highest in about two decades in May as nearly a quarter of a million people lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic-driven shutdowns.

Oil prices recovered from losses earlier in the session, with US crude futures down 0.2% to $38.13 a barrel, while international benchmark Brent added 0.2% to $40.78 a barrel.

Opec and its allies, or Opec+, are expected to hold an online meeting later on Thursday to discuss the future of a record 9.7-million barrels per day output cut.

In commodity markets, gold was stuck at $1,726.48/oz. — Reuters