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Nikkei dives to 14-month trough on virus fears, oil plunge

Published 09/03/2020, 09:15
Updated 09/03/2020, 09:18
© Reuters.  Nikkei dives to 14-month trough on virus fears, oil plunge

© Reuters. Nikkei dives to 14-month trough on virus fears, oil plunge

SYDNEY, March 9 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share benchmark

tumbled to 14-month lows on Monday, on rising fears that the

widening reach of the coronavirus epidemic could severely

disrupt the global economy.

The Nikkei average .N225 shed 5.1% to 19,473.07, its

lowest closing level since Jan. 4, 2019. It marked the biggest

one-day fall since June 24, 2016.

"The markets have moved into a new phase," traders said,

referring to recent developments, including multiple state of

emergency declarations in the United States in response to the

coronavirus outbreak and an oil price plunge.

The number of people infected with coronavirus topped

110,000 across the world and more than 3,800 have died, as the

outbreak reaches more countries and causes wider economic

damage. The broader Topix .TOPX slid 5.6% to 1,388.97, its lowest

closing since Nov. 11, 2016.

All of the 33 sector sub-indexes on the Tokyo Stock Exchange

were trading lower, with mining .IMING.T , banking .IBNKS.T

and securities .ISECU.T becoming the worst three performers.

Oil refiners and trading houses were pummelled by big falls

in oil prices as Saudi Arabia plans to raise its crude oil

production significantly following the collapse of OPEC's supply

cut agreement with Russia. Major oil refiners JXTG Holdings Inc 5020.T and Idemitsu

Kosan Co Ltd 5019.T sank 8.2% and 6.6%, respectively, while

Mitsui & Co 8031.T and Itochu Corp 8001.T dropped 6.9% and

5.6%, in that order.

As the yield on 10-year U.S. Treasuries US10YT=RR plunged

to a once-unthinkable level below 0.5%, bank stocks were hit

hard - as falling yields will have negative impact on their

profits.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc 8306.T dived 11.3% and

Mizuho Financial Group Inc 8411.T slumped 13.1%.

On the currency front, the safe-haven yen JPY= jumped more

than 3% to a day high of 101.55 per dollar, its strongest since

Nov. 9, 2016.

It created a headwind for exporters, including

semi-conductor related shares that had been helped by hopes of

demand related to new technologies such as 5G, with Yaskawa

Electric 6506.T and Murata Manufacturing 6981.T diving 9.2%

and 7.0%, respectively.

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