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Stocks Jump After a Wild Day: Live Market Updates Stocks Jump After a Wild Day: Live Market Updates
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Shares on Wall Street rose on Wednesday, bouncing back from a steep drop the day before that had been fueled by concerns over the worldwide coronavirus outbreak.Shares on Wall Street rose on Wednesday, bouncing back from a steep drop the day before that had been fueled by concerns over the worldwide coronavirus outbreak.
From Tokyo to New York, financial markets have been on a roller coaster for the past two weeks as investor grapple with the potential damage the coronavirus could inflict on the global economy as fractured supply chains, travel bans imposed by companies and governments, and the disruption of daily life in general, take their toll.From Tokyo to New York, financial markets have been on a roller coaster for the past two weeks as investor grapple with the potential damage the coronavirus could inflict on the global economy as fractured supply chains, travel bans imposed by companies and governments, and the disruption of daily life in general, take their toll.
After falling nearly 3 percent on Tuesday, the S&P 500 was up more than 1 percent Wednesday morning. Shares in Europe were also higher, while markets in Asia had been mixed as traders there looked for more signals on how global leaders would respond.After falling nearly 3 percent on Tuesday, the S&P 500 was up more than 1 percent Wednesday morning. Shares in Europe were also higher, while markets in Asia had been mixed as traders there looked for more signals on how global leaders would respond.
In the United States, the rosier outlook might partly reflect Wall Street’s appraisal of the Super Tuesday primary election results, which revived Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s campaign against Senator Bernie Sanders, whose plans to take on banks and tax stock and bond trades have worried many in the financial community.In the United States, the rosier outlook might partly reflect Wall Street’s appraisal of the Super Tuesday primary election results, which revived Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s campaign against Senator Bernie Sanders, whose plans to take on banks and tax stock and bond trades have worried many in the financial community.
The most obvious indication of this was a spike in shares of health care companies. Mr. Sanders aims to eliminate most private health insurance as part of a single-payer health care plan. Shares of the insurer UnitedHealth Group were up more than 12 percent.The most obvious indication of this was a spike in shares of health care companies. Mr. Sanders aims to eliminate most private health insurance as part of a single-payer health care plan. Shares of the insurer UnitedHealth Group were up more than 12 percent.
As the virus has spread around the world, investors have become intensely focused on its impact. But there is little clarity about how long it will take governments and health officials to contain the virus, leading to a gloomy prognosis for global economic growth. As the virus has spread, investors have become intensely focused on its impact. But there is little clarity about how long it will take governments and health officials to contain the virus, leading to a gloomy prognosis for global economic growth.
On Tuesday, the Federal Reserve validated these concerns by announcing an emergency cut in interest rates, only a few hours after leaders of the world’s largest economy said they would refrain from concrete action.
And Wall Street’s reaction to the Fed’s move — stocks and bond yields both fell sharply — showed that investors had settled on the conclusion that the cut would not address the biggest economic challenges posed by the virus.
In global financial markets on Wednesday, there were few signs of Wall Street’s jitters a day earlier.
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On Tuesday, the Federal Reserve validated these concerns by announcing an emergency cut in interest rates, only a few hours after leaders of the world’s largest economy said they would refrain from concrete action.
In global financial markets on Wednesday, there were few signs of Wall Street’s jitters a day earlier.
In Europe, the FTSE 100 index in Britain was 1.4 percent higher. The DAX in Germany gained 1.1 percent, while the CAC 40 index in France was up 1.2 percent.In Europe, the FTSE 100 index in Britain was 1.4 percent higher. The DAX in Germany gained 1.1 percent, while the CAC 40 index in France was up 1.2 percent.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index ended 0.1 percent higher, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index finished 0.2 percent lower. In China, the Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.6 percent.In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index ended 0.1 percent higher, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index finished 0.2 percent lower. In China, the Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.6 percent.
The Bank of Canada cut rates on Wednesday by 50 basis points, to 1.25 percent, following the Federal Reserve’s move on Tuesday.The Bank of Canada cut rates on Wednesday by 50 basis points, to 1.25 percent, following the Federal Reserve’s move on Tuesday.
Hong Kong’s monetary authority also cut rates on Wednesday. While it stopped short of lowering borrowing costs, South Korea’s central bank said it would keep the Fed’s emergency move in mind in setting its own policy. And in Saudi Arabia, central bankers in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain lowered rates by half a point. Hong Kong’s monetary authority also cut rates on Wednesday. While it stopped short of lowering borrowing costs, South Korea’s central bank said it would keep the Fed’s emergency move in mind in setting its own policy. And central bankers in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain lowered rates by half a point.
Global commerce is heavily conducted in dollars, so the Fed’s move matters enormously to the rest of the world. When it lowers interest rates, it gives its counterparts in other countries room to cut their own borrowing costs without triggering capital outflows — in which investors park their money elsewhere in search of higher interest rates.Global commerce is heavily conducted in dollars, so the Fed’s move matters enormously to the rest of the world. When it lowers interest rates, it gives its counterparts in other countries room to cut their own borrowing costs without triggering capital outflows — in which investors park their money elsewhere in search of higher interest rates.
As the coronavirus outbreak has spread to Europe and the United States, companies that rely on world travelers are struggling to predict exactly how they will ultimately be affected.As the coronavirus outbreak has spread to Europe and the United States, companies that rely on world travelers are struggling to predict exactly how they will ultimately be affected.
Most restrictions by American companies are on cross-border travel, but Ford Motor Company told its employees on Tuesday to stop all domestic air travel in the United States, and to use videoconferences as much as possible for critical meetings.Most restrictions by American companies are on cross-border travel, but Ford Motor Company told its employees on Tuesday to stop all domestic air travel in the United States, and to use videoconferences as much as possible for critical meetings.
Rare exceptions will be made for travel that is critical to Ford operations, requires employees to be on site and does not put anyone at risk, the company said.Rare exceptions will be made for travel that is critical to Ford operations, requires employees to be on site and does not put anyone at risk, the company said.
The company had previously restricted travel to and from China, where it has two joint ventures.The company had previously restricted travel to and from China, where it has two joint ventures.
General Motors has stopped all employee travel to China, Japan, South Korea and Italy, and restricted international travel to other locations only for essential matters. Exceptions for international travel require approval of a senior executive, a spokesman said.General Motors has stopped all employee travel to China, Japan, South Korea and Italy, and restricted international travel to other locations only for essential matters. Exceptions for international travel require approval of a senior executive, a spokesman said.
Analysts say most companies in the lodging, gambling or leisure industries — including cruise ship lines and amusement parks — know they will take hit in the short term, but have little idea of what will happen in the summer or beyond. Analysts say most companies in the lodging, gambling or leisure industries know they will take hit in the short term, but have little idea of what will happen in the summer or beyond.
Nervous investors are bracing for the worst. The stocks of hotel chains like Hyatt, Marriott and InterContinental Hotels have tumbled more than 16 percent this year, compared with declines of 5 percent in the broader market. Nervous investors are bracing for the worst. The stocks of hotel chains like Hyatt, Marriott and InterContinental Hotels have tumbled more than 16 percent this year.
Larry Birnbaum, who owns The Lightbulb Store in Hackensack, N.J., which manufactures and distributes LED products, said 95 percent of his stock comes from China, and nothing has come through in the last month.Larry Birnbaum, who owns The Lightbulb Store in Hackensack, N.J., which manufactures and distributes LED products, said 95 percent of his stock comes from China, and nothing has come through in the last month.
On average, Mr. Birnbaum said, he orders $100,000 in LED light bulbs from China every month, the equivalent of roughly 1,000 bulbs. When he paid the balance on his last order about a month ago, the factory called him and told him the Chinese government said that it wasn’t able to ship the bulbs and that the soonest it could was maybe the end of April or beginning of May.On average, Mr. Birnbaum said, he orders $100,000 in LED light bulbs from China every month, the equivalent of roughly 1,000 bulbs. When he paid the balance on his last order about a month ago, the factory called him and told him the Chinese government said that it wasn’t able to ship the bulbs and that the soonest it could was maybe the end of April or beginning of May.
“Maybe is a scary word,” Mr. Birnbaum said. “I’ve been in the lighting business for 47 years. I’ve never seen anything like this.”“Maybe is a scary word,” Mr. Birnbaum said. “I’ve been in the lighting business for 47 years. I’ve never seen anything like this.”
The Lightbulb Store is both a wholesale business that sells to electronic wholesalers and a retail business for walk-in customers. Retail customers have yet to be affected, but Mr. Birnbaum said he doesn’t know how he’ll replenish his stock once what’s on the shelves is gone. The Lightbulb Store is both a wholesale business that sells to electronic wholesalers and a retail business for walk-in customers. Retail customers have yet to be affected, but Mr.
Mr. Birnbaum said he relies on Chinese manufacturers for LED bulbs because he can get them for less there. He has found a few U.S. companies to buy bulbs from in the meantime, but has had to pay 20 to 30 percent above the typical price that suppliers in the United States were charging — which was already more than 10 percent higher than ordering from China. As a result, Mr. Birnbaum said, he is raising his prices for wholesale customers by 10 to 15 percent. Mr. Birnbaum has found a few U.S. companies to buy bulbs from, but has had to pay 20 to 30 percent above the typical price that suppliers in the United States were charging — which was already more than 10 percent higher than ordering from China. As a result, Mr. Birnbaum said, he is raising his prices for wholesale customers by 10 to 15 percent.
“I have had to put my hand in my pocket. If this goes on much longer, I don’t know what I’m going to do. And I’m sure I’m not the only one in this boat,” he said. “As it gets leaner and leaner, it’s scary.” The London Book Fair, one of the publishing industry’s biggest international events of the year, was canceled on Wednesday because of concerns related to the coronavirus in Europe.
General Electric said the coronavirus outbreak would probably cost it as much as $300 million in operating profit in the first quarter. It described the virus’s impact as an “evolving variable.”General Electric said the coronavirus outbreak would probably cost it as much as $300 million in operating profit in the first quarter. It described the virus’s impact as an “evolving variable.”
The Hannover Messe, a major industrial technology fair in Germany scheduled for April, was postponed because of coronavirus concerns; it will now take place in July. Google said on Tuesday that it was canceling its annual developers conference because of similar concerns. The Google I/O event was scheduled to take place May 12-14 in Mountain View, Calif. The Hannover Messe, a major industrial technology fair in Germany scheduled for April, was postponed because of coronavirus concerns; it will now take place in July. Google said on Tuesday that it was canceling its annual developers conference because of similar concerns. The Google I/O event was scheduled to take place May 12-14 in Mountain View, Calif.
Amazon learned that an employee in one of its office buildings in the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle had tested positive for the virus, the company said in an email to its staff late Tuesday. “We are supporting the affected employee, who remains in quarantine,” said Drew Herdener, an Amazon spokesman.Amazon learned that an employee in one of its office buildings in the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle had tested positive for the virus, the company said in an email to its staff late Tuesday. “We are supporting the affected employee, who remains in quarantine,” said Drew Herdener, an Amazon spokesman.
An employee of the accounting firm Deloitte in the City of London has tested positive for the coronavirus after a personal trip to Asia, the company said. “The member of staff is now in hospital and receiving good care,” a Deloitte representative said.An employee of the accounting firm Deloitte in the City of London has tested positive for the coronavirus after a personal trip to Asia, the company said. “The member of staff is now in hospital and receiving good care,” a Deloitte representative said.
Reporting was contributed by Geneva Abdul, Neal E. Boudette, Julie Creswell, Sophia June, Jeanna Smialek, Karen Weise and Daisuke Wakabayashi.Reporting was contributed by Geneva Abdul, Neal E. Boudette, Julie Creswell, Sophia June, Jeanna Smialek, Karen Weise and Daisuke Wakabayashi.