Bloomberg Markets Wrap: Stocks Pummeled, Havens Jump as Virus Fears Mount

European stocks and U.S. equity futures tumbled on Monday and havens surged as the increase in coronavirus cases outside of China roiled risk assets. The yield on 10-year Treasuries fell to the lowest since 2016.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index slid at the open, dragged lower by miners and automakers. Contracts on the three main American equities gauges all sank, after finance chiefs and central bankers from the largest economies said this weekend that they saw the virus bringing downside risks to global growth. In Asia, shares in Seoul saw the brunt of losses, down 3.9%, with Hong Kong, Sydney and Shanghai also declining. Japan is shut for a holiday.

Italy’s sovereign bonds dropped as the country became Europe’s epicenter for virus cases over the weekend. Brent crude oil tumbled 3%.

Risk appetite is flagging as the coronavirus spreads further outside China, raising concerns about the prospect of a global pandemic. Last week’s flight to safe assets is carrying over into this week as South Korea on Monday reported infections jumped by 161 to 763, and Italy locked down an area of 50,000 people near Milan.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index sank 2.3% as of 8:06 a.m. London time. Futures on the S&P 500 Index fell 1.9%. Nasdaq 100 Index futures fell 2.3%. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index decreased 1.3%.

The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index rose 0.3%. The euro declined 0.2% to $1.0821. The British pound dipped 0.2% to $1.294. The Japanese yen strengthened 0.1% to 111.47 per dollar. Bonds

West Texas Intermediate crude sank 2.9% to $51.82 a barrel. Gold strengthened 2% to $1,676.31 an ounce.

Stocks Pummeled, Havens Jump as Virus Fears Mount: Markets Wrap, Bloomberg, Feb 24