World Stocks Drop Again On Mounting Economic Toll From Virus

Global stocks mostly tumbled Monday despite fresh stimulus announcements as the economic toll from the coronavirus continued to mount.

The US Federal Reserve unveiled a batch of additional aggressive measures to support the economy, but the boost was countered when a stalemated United States economy again failed to advance a key stimulus measure.

Meanwhile, German ministers agreed to blast through a constitutional limit on government deficits with 156 billion euros of new borrowing to fight the impact of the novel coronavirus.

"We're showing that, right from the beginning, we will fight with all our might against this crisis calling into question healthcare for our citizens or economic activity in this country," German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said.

But markets continued to plummet, moving inversely to the mounting number of coronavirus cases globally.

More than 1.7 billion people have been asked to stay home in over 50 countries and territories around the world, including 700 million people in India alone.

Late Monday, Britain ordered a three-week lockdown except for essential shops and services.

The coronavirus pandemic has hammered markets around the world AFP / Kena Betancur

On Wall Street, the Dow suffered another big drop, this time of 3.0 percent as the New York Stock Exchange completed its first all-electronic session in the wake of the crisis after the exchange suspended floor trading.

Stocks sold off aggressively after the Senate again failed to advance a trillion-dollar rescue package, while major cities in the United States ordered most businesses shut to try to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Earlier, the Fed had announced several new initiatives to prop up the economy.

The central bank announced it will buy unlimited amounts of US Treasury debt -- essentially printing money for the economy -- as well as new steps to lend directly to small- and medium-sized companies that have been among the hardest-hit as economic activity dries up.

The Fed said it also plans to soon announce a "Main Street Business Lending Program," and pledged it "will continue to use its full range of tools to support the flow of credit to households and businesses."

Analysts welcomed the steps, but many expect markets to remain brittle until the world's biggest economy gets a grip on the virus outbreak.

"We're going to need to see these growth rates restabilize in order for markets to heal," said Matt Jozoff, fixed income research managing director at JPMorgan Chase.

European bourses also dropped, including the German DAX which lost 2.1 percent despite the stimulus package.

"Markets are again showing stress on fears that the economic damage will be worse than anticipated and that the response by governments and central banks will not be enough to prevent a mammoth recession," said analyst Neil Wilson at trading site Markets.com.

In a sea of red, the Tokyo stock market was a notable exception, closing two percent higher as a cheaper yen against the dollar boosted shares in Japanese exporters.

Airlines, including long-haul giant Emirates, have been hit particularly hard by the coronavirus pandemic AFP / ROMEO GACAD

Dow member Boeing was another rare gainer, surging 11.2 percent following an upgrade from Goldman Sachs, which predicted the aerospace giant would survive the dual hits of the 737 MAX grounding and a brutal crisis in the airline sector due to the virus.

Shares of the company were also boosted by an announcement that it would suspend production at manufacturing centers in Washington state but not lay off staff.

The announcement implies the company believes it will secure federal backing after it pressed for $60 billion in support for the US aerospace industry.

New York - Dow: DOWN 3.0 percent at 18,591.93 (close)

New York - S&P 500: DOWN 2.9 percent at 2,237.40 (close)

New York - Nasdaq: DOWN 0.3 percent at 6,860.67 (close)

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 3.8 percent at 4,993.89 (close)

Frankfurt - DAX 30: DOWN 2.1 percent at 8,741.15 (close)

Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 3.3 percent at 3,914.31 (close)

EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 2.5 percent at 2,485.54 (close)

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 2.0 percent at 16,887.78 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 4.9 percent at 21,696.13 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 3.1 percent at 2,660.17 (close)

Brent North Sea crude: UP 0.2 percent at $27.03 per barrel

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 3.2 percent at $23.36 per barrel