* MSCI ACWI down over 10% this week
* Powell tries to sooth markets, Fed rate cut next month
priced in
* Global stock markets lose the value of Japan's GDP in a
week
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
(Updates prices, comment)
By Rodrigo Campos
NEW YORK, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Coronavirus panic sent world
stock markets tumbling again on Friday, setting them on course
for their largest weekly fall since the 2008 global financial
crisis, with over $5 trillion wiped from global market value so
far this week.
Stocks shaved some losses on Wall Street after Federal
Reserve chairman Jerome Powell said the central bank will act as
appropriate to provide support to the U.S. economy, but the S&P
500 index remained on track for its second-largest weekly
percentage decline since 1940.
Yields on U.S. government bonds, widely seen as the world's
most secure asset, posted fresh record lows. US/
Disruptions to international travel and supply chains,
school closures and cancellations of major events have all
blackened the outlook for a world economy that was already
struggling with fallout from the U.S.-China trade war.
Hopes the epidemic, first detected in China in December,
would be over swiftly and economic activity quickly return to
normal have been shattered as the World Health Organization
warned it could spread worldwide. "The uncertainty hovering over the markets will only be
alleviated when there is a sense that the worst is almost over,"
said Quincy Krosby, chief market strategist at Prudential
Financial Inc. "Until then it is risk off."
The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI fell 685.7 points,
or 2.66%, to 25,080.94, and the S&P 500 .SPX lost 62.2 points,
or 2.09%, to 2,916.56.
MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe .MIWD00000PUS shed
2.42% for a weekly loss near 11%, its second largest on record.
The over $5 trillion lost in market cap is roughly
equivalent to Japan's yearly GDP, the third-largest in the
world.
In Asia, MSCI's regional index excluding Japan
.MIAPJ0000PUS shed 2.6%. Japan's Nikkei .N225 slumped 3.7%
on rising fears the July-August Tokyo Olympics may be called off
due to the coronavirus.
The CSI300 index of Shanghai and Shenzhen shares .CSI300
dropped 3.5% bringing its weekly loss to 5%, the largest since
April.
RATE CUTS PRICED IN
About 10 countries have reported their first virus cases
over the past 24 hours, including Nigeria, the biggest economy
in Africa.
Expectations the Fed will cut interest rates to cushion the
blow are rising in money markets and Powell's remarks reinforced
the sentiment. Fed funds futures 0#FF: are now fully pricing
in a rate cut next month, with the question only being how large
it will be. The European Central Bank historically lags the Fed but it
is now seen cutting by another 10 basis points by June.
The yen's luster shined, with the Japanese currency rising
by the most for any week since mid-2016.
On Friday the yen JPY= strengthened 1.61% versus the
greenback at 107.88 per dollar.
The dollar index =USD fell 0.32%, with the euro EUR= up
0.27% to $1.1028. Sterling GBP= was last trading at $1.279,
down 0.73% on the day.
The appeal of guaranteed income sent high-grade bonds
rallying. U.S. yields - which move inversely to the price -
plunged, with the benchmark 10-year note yield hitting a record
low of 1.126%.
"The market is pricing in a rate cut by March and three rate
cuts this year, which is a huge turnaround from the start of the
year. But the fact that it looks like coronavirus has a long way
to go means this is not surprising," said Chris Scicluna, head
of economic research at Daiwa Capital Markets in London.
Benchmark 10-year notes US10YT=RR last rose 1-9/32 in
price to yield 1.1257%, from 1.299% late Thursday. The 30-year
bond US30YT=RR last rose 2-24/32 in price to yield 1.6676%,
from 1.783%.
Oil prices slumped again and were set for their steepest
weekly fall in years on fears of drooping demand.
U.S. crude CLc1 fell 3.89% to $45.26 per barrel and Brent
LCOc1 was last at $50.50, down 3.22% on the day.
Palladium led a free fall in precious metals as coronavirus
drove panic-stricken investors to liquidate assets across the
board. Spot gold XAU= dropped 3.5% to $1,584.51 an ounce after
touching a 7-year high on Thursday. Palladium XPD= dropped
9.9% to $2,564.01 an ounce after hitting a record high on
Thursday.
Among industrial metals, copper CMCU3 rose 0.34% to
$5,634.85 a tonne. Three-month aluminum on the London Metal
Exchange CMAL3 rose 0.68% to $1,701.50 a tonne.
<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Coronavirus crashes global markets https://tmsnrt.rs/3cgbhXn
Global currencies vs. dollar http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>