Stocks fall as U.S.-China tensions threaten rebound

LONDON (Reuters)

European stock markets and oil prices fell today as a spat between top U.S. officials and China over the origin of the coronavirus fuelled fears of a new trade war, derailing a rebound in global markets.

Image: London Stock Exchange Group building in the City of London. PHOTO: Credit REUTERS/Toby Melville

European shares were down 2.5% in mid-morning trading, with sectors sensitive to economic growth including oil and gas .SXEP, automakers .SXAP and banks falling between about 4% and 5.5%.

Volatility gauges for European and American blue-chip stocks shot up to a two-week high while U.S. stock futures ESc1 were about 1% in the red.

Earlier, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS fell 2.5%, pulled down by Hong Kong where the Hang Seng .HSI returned from a two-session holiday with its biggest drop in six weeks.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday there was “a significant amount of evidence” that the novel coronavirus emerged from a laboratory in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

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The U.S. dollar rose against most major currencies amid fears that last year’s U.S.-China dispute would be reignited, this time over the origins of the pandemic that has stalled economies around the world.

The euro was down 0.37% at $1.0933 EUR=EBS and the pound retreated 0.72% to $1.2407 GBP=D3.

Gold prices also rose as investors sought safety. Spot gold XAU= was up 0.3% at $1,704.31 per ounce.

Pompeo did not provide evidence or dispute an earlier U.S. intelligence conclusion that the virus was not man-made.

An editorial in China’s Global Times said he was “bluffing” and called on the United States to present its evidence.

“Concern on the potential for another flare up between the U.S. and China is dominating price action,” RBC strategist Adam Cole said in a morning note.

Simon Black, head of investment management at wealth management firm Dolfin said investors were also adjusting their forecasts for the depth of the economic damage the pandemic will inflict.

“It’s also the economic reality sinking in,” he said, adding that a rebound by global equities of over 20% from lows hit in March was not likely to be sustainable.

Source: REUTERS