Stocks in China slide; US equity futures advance

Bloomberg

US equity futures rose and European stocks fluctuated following steep losses at the end of last week and as investors digested the latest developments in the coronavirus outbreak. Shares plunged in China as markets there reopened after a long holiday.
Contracts on the three main American equity indexes all advanced in the wake of previous declines. Gains in technology and travel shares offset losses for miners in the Stoxx Europe 600 Index, as support measures from China’s government helped stem losses in other markets. Stocks in Shanghai fell almost 8% and fluctuated in Hong Kong. The deadly outbreak, largely centered in China, showed no signs of slowing with the nation’s death toll exceeding 360.
The dollar strengthened, while Treasuries slipped. Oil was little changed, and the offshore yuan weakened to more than 7 per dollar.
Copper futures drifted in London trading following 13 sessions of declines.
Investors shifted gears on Monday on the back of turmoil that sent global equities to the worst week since August amid concern economies will falter as the virus spreads. The People’s Bank of China cut rates as it injected cash into the financial system on Monday, part of a slew of measures to shore up their financial markets.
Elsewhere, the pound slid as investors reacted to a report that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson could walk away from talks over Britain’s future trade relationship with the European Union. Indian bonds surged after the government refrained from announcing higher debt sales in the budget and amid plans to allow foreign investors greater access to government securities.
The US manufacturing gauge from the Institute for Supply Management was due on Monday. There were also a slew of other PMIs, including India and Brazil.
Tuesday brings a policy decision from the Reserve Bank of Australia, and the Reserve Bank of India’s interest rate decision is due on Thursday.
Friday has the US employment report for January.
Futures on the S&P 500 Index increased 0.4% in London. Nasdaq 100 Index futures gained 0.5%. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index advanced 0.1%. The MSCI All-Country World Index decreased 0.2%. The MSCI Emerging Market Index sank 0.7%.
The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index advanced 0.2%. The British pound decreased 1% to $1.307. The euro declined 0.2% to $1.1067.
The Japanese yen weakened 0.1% to 108.51 per dollar. The offshore yuan depreciated 0.3% to 7.0168 per dollar.
The yield on 10-year Treasuries increased two basis points to 1.53%. Germany’s 10-year yield decreased one basis point to -0.44%. Britain’s 10-year yield fell less than one basis point to 0.522%.
West Texas Intermediate crude climbed 0.5% to $51.84 a barrel. Gold weakened 0.7% to $1,577.82 an ounce. LME copper climbed 0.6% to $5,598 per metric ton.