The Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE: DIA) dropped a dizzying 1,000 points during trading on Monday; the concerning one-day drop is a symptom of a problem sweeping global markets; out of control volatility from the Wuhan Coronavirus.
The 1,000-point single-day drop of the Dow utterly annihilated the gains made since the beginning of the year. The drop was caused by a mass selloff caused by fears of the coronavirus' spread to more than 30 countries worldwide. The Dow's plummet was joined by the other major domestic indices, including the S&P 500 (NYSE: SPY) and the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: QQQ). The S&P 500 dropped 3.3% while the Nasdaq dropped 3.8%; the DJIA's drop amounted to a 3.5% decline. To make matters worse, the Cboe Volatility Index, the bellwether for market trouble, rose 41% to a high not seen since August of last year.
The drop in major indices is a symptom of the worldwide fear of the coronavirus, as well as the disruption in global supply chains as China, the second-largest economy in the world, and one of the biggest industrial producers struggles with factory shutdowns and a stalled economy. The effects of the disruptions in China and global fears of a larger, potentially worldwide outbreak are reflected across the board; very few companies across all sectors are entirely safe from the outbreak.
The airline and energy sectors have been among the hardest hit. Airline stocks were one of the bigger catalysts for the S&P 500's drop on Monday. American Airlines (NASDAQ: AAL), Delta Airlines (NYSE: DAL), and United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAL) were down, 9.8%, 7.2%, and 4.3%, respectively. Asian airlines may be the worst hit, as reduced travel within China and to the economic giant's neighbors has slowed down considerably. Many smaller airlines may be unable to shoulder the cost and may be forced into closure. Travel advisories and a global drop in demand have driven stocks lower for airlines worldwide, alongside the general fears of greater economic consequences that may have yet to appear.
Similarly, energy stocks have been driven down by reduced demand, a sizeable supply glut, and fears of the outbreak worsening to a far greater extent. Oil prices were down 4% overall due to investor concerns over the virus. Major oil indices reflected the dismal outlook of energy investors, with Brent Crude (NYSE: BNO) down 4.1% and U.S. Crude Futures down 4%.
While some sectors are seeing greater effects than others, the market is undeniably volatile for just about all involved. Companies such as Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Disney (NYSE: DIS), Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD), and Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) have taken a hit to their share prices. The outbreak has caused disruptions in supply lines for major companies, fears that the outbreak may yet still intensify investors worried that supply lines maybe even more strained than they currently are, which, in a worst-case scenario, could very well lead to product shortages.
The market volatility and widespread fears of worsening economic effects from the coronavirus outbreak has had an inverse effect on the price of gold (NYSE: GLD), which surged 2.8% on Monday. Investors have sought safe harbor in gold to weather the storm of the coronavirus, and for the most part, it seems that gold will continue to provide a haven for investors worldwide despite uncertainty.
The story is much the same as it has been over the last few months, with the coronavirus wreaking havoc on the global market. The effects, however, seem to be intensifying. While new cases slowed down in China, more cases are being reported worldwide. Whether the market will continue to go further down, or investors will finally see some relief hinges entirely on the spread of the coronavirus, or the lack thereof. Some companies will inevitably recover faster than others, likely those whose market value has only been hurt by fear and not physical ramifications such as supply line or personnel shortages. As such, the airline industry and energy industries may be the slowest to recover, as consumer confidence and global demand recovery may be slow to start once the spread of the virus is finally put into check.