Asian markets mixed after virus-fuelled global bloodbath

Asian markets were mixed Tuesday as bargain-buying after the previous day's bloodbath tempered fears that the new coronavirus will develop into a pandemic and hammer the global economy.

News at the weekend of a spike in the number of COVID-19 deaths and infections far beyond China sparked a flood to safety on trading floors across the world, with the Dow on Wall Street suffering its worst day in two years.

With the death toll at around 2,700 and 80,000 infected, the World Health Organization said the outbreak had "peaked" in China but warned that all countries should prepare for a "potential pandemic".

"As the number of COVID-19 infections outside of China rises, investors are considering the potential ramification on the global economy beyond weaker growth in China and supply chain disruptions," JP Morgan Asset Management's Tai Hui said.

"Equity markets will remain volatile in the near term, driven by new infection numbers around the world."

Tokyo led losses as markets reopened to play catch-up with Monday's global sell-off.

The Nikkei ended more than three percent lower, while Sydney and Wellington each shed more than one percent and Shanghai dipped 0.6 percent. There were also losses in Bangkok and Jakarta.

However, Hong Kong added 0.3 percent, while Seoul jumped 1.2 percent, having plunged almost four percent Monday in reaction to a spurt of infections in South Korea at the weekend. Singapore added 0.6 percent, Taipei rose 0.1 percent and Mumbai put on 0.3 percent.

Buying opportunity

In early trade, London, which shed more than three percent Monday, added 0.4 percent. Paris rose 0.6 percent and Frankfurt gained 0.7 percent, having both lost around four percent previously.

"There is no question financial markets are coming round to the realisation that this particular crisis is likely to have a slightly longer shelf life than many thought was the case a couple of weeks ago," said CMC Markets UK analyst Michael Hewson in a note.

"However, flu outbreaks are hardly anything new. They happen every year and according to the World Health Organization flu kills up to 650,000 a year, yet markets are reacting to an outbreak that has so far only affected a fraction of that number."

While the region is suffering another broad retreat, the losses are being tempered by bargain-buying, while reports said a US firm had developed a possible vaccine that had been sent for testing.

And analysts said the recent losses would provide a good buying opportunity as they looked past the virus and contemplated an improving economic outlook.

World markets had been rallying at the start of the year on hopes for global growth in the wake of the China-US trade pact and as indicators suggesting a slowdown appeared to be bottoming out.

David Wong, an investment strategist at AllianceBernstein in Hong Kong, said: "The benefit of global quantitative easing and the trade war truce should ultimately provide more upside to the global economy than the coronavirus will apply downside risk."

The return to equity markets also saw gold fall sharply, losing nearly three percent after hitting a seven-year high on Monday.

Oil prices, which tanked around 3.8 percent Monday, jumped one percent in the afternoon, though concern about the impact on demand for the commodity in China -- the world's top crude consumer -- was keeping gains subdued.

High-yielding, riskier currencies were also benefitting, with the South Korean won up 0.8 percent, Australia's dollar 0.5 percent higher and the Mexican peso gaining one percent.

Key figures around 0820 GMT

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 3.3 percent at 22,605.41 (close) 

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 0.3 percent at 26,893.23 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.6 percent at 3013.05 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.4 percent at 7,187.00

Dollar/yen: UP at 110.80 from 110.71 

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0853 from $1.0852 

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2934 from $1.2924

Euro/pound: DOWN at 83.90 pence from 83.95 pence  

Gold: DOWN 2.9 percent at $1,638.08

Brent Crude: UP 1.0 percent at $56.87 per barrel

West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.0 percent at $51.96 per barrel

New York - Dow: DOWN 3.6 percent at 27,960.80 (close)