Stocks head for worst week in four as coronavirus spreads

Investors dump riskier assets for the safety of bonds and gold

LONDON: Shares across the world fell on Friday and were set for their worst week in four as investors dumped riskier assets for the safety of bonds and gold, with coronavirus cases in China and elsewhere spreading.

China reported more cases of the disease on Friday, with finance leaders from the Group of 20 major economies meeting in Saudi Arabia over the weekend set to discuss risks to the global economy stemming from the outbreak.

Though investors have been sanguine about the long-term economic risks from the virus, a steady drip of new cases in countries beyond China has kept worries gnawing away, with South Korea on Friday recording over 50 new cases.

Europe's broad Euro Stoxx 600 fell 0.3%, with indices in London - FTSE - and Paris - FCHI - down 0.5% and 0.3% respectively.

"It's risk-off - bonds are being bought again and hedges are being put into play at the moment," said Unigestion Investment Manager Olivier Marciot.

Not helping the nerves were manufacturing surveys underscoring the grim state of the Japanese economy.

Japan's purchasing managers' index dropped to 47.6 in February, from 48.8, marking the steepest contraction in seven years.

European surveys painted a somewhat brighter picture, with French business activity growing faster than expected in February on a rebound in the service sector. Germany's private sector expansion also held steady.

Gold and US bonds were among the main beneficiaries as funds sought safety.

Yields on 30-year US Treasuries fell below the psychologically important 2% level to the lowest since September 2019.

Yields on 10-year notes were down 9 basis points for the week at 1.498%, lows last seen in September.

Ten-year German government bond yields fell to a four-month low , with the entire yield curve on the cusp of turning negative. The entire Dutch yield also returned to negative territory.

Gold was last up 0.8% at $1,631.16 per ounce, having added 3.1% for the week so far to seven-year highs.

"US and EU equity markets have been sold across the board with core global yields benefiting from safe-haven flows," said Rodrigo Catril, a senior FX strategist at NAB.

Underscoring the economic impact from the coronavirus, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimated losses for Asian airlines alone could amount to almost $28 billion this year, with most of that in China.

The dollar against a basket of currencies was last down 0.2% at 99.649, but still near 33-month highs touched a day earlier.

Another casualty of its close trade ties with China was the Australian dollar, which plumbed 11-year lows.

The euro fared little better at $1.0811, having reached depths not seen since April 2017.

Against a basket of currencies, the dollar hit a three-year top at 99.910, having climbed 0.5% for the week so far.

Oil prices fell around 1%, with Brent crude futures easing 78 cents to $58.54.