(Bloomberg) — Global stocks and S&P 500 equity futures slumped as investors worried about delays to U.S. economic stimulus, the impact about surging virus cases across Europe and the possibility of American election interference.
The Stoxx Europe 600 Index lost 0.9% and reached the lowest level in a month. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell 0.6%. Treasury yields fell, though remained above the 0.8% level. Other haven assets were mixed, with the dollar trading little changed and gold declining.
“There is increasingly a recognition that no fiscal package agreement ahead of the election is likely,” said James McCormick, global head of desk strategy at NatWest Markets. “The Covid-19 resurgence is certainly a background issue for risk assets, but the fiscal debate in the U.S. has been the main short-term question.”
U.S. shares closed lower on Wednesday after a volatile session amid signs that a stimulus package is unlikely to become law before the election. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin made progress in their latest talks and will speak again Thursday even as the odds remained long for a deal that could pass in the Senate.
Around the world, there is increasing evidence that the pandemic is starting to worsen. Germany’s new infections have jumped to a record, while Spain and France are now the first nations in Western Europe with 1 million cases.
U.S. hospitalizations for Covid-19 have reached a two-month high, led by the Midwest. New York state’s new virus cases exceeded 2,000 for the first time since May.
The American presidential election also remains at the forefront for investors, who were recently pricing in a lower liklihood of a contested legal battle after the vote.
The top U.S. spy chief accused Iran of making its most direct efforts to interfere in the closing days of the presidential election. John Ratcliffe, the director of national intelligence, said both Iran and Russia had obtained voter registration information and that Tehran was already using it to send threatening emails.
With no meaningful progress on fiscal policy, markets “are reacting to the heightened political instability that comes with the confirmation of efforts to manipulate the presidential race,” said Eleanor Creagh, Sydney-based strategist at Saxo Capital Markets. “The ability for either candidate to seize upon accusations of foreign interference is heightened and raises the probability of a contested outcome, particularly as the race could be closer than polls currently indicate.”
Here are some key events coming up:
The final presidential debate before the U.S. election, between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, will be live from Nashville, Tennessee on Thursday.U.S. jobless claims come Thursday.
These are some of the main market moves:
Stocks
Futures on the S&P 500 Index fell 0.6% as of 8:22 a.m. London time.The Stoxx Europe 600 Index decreased 1.1%.The MSCI Asia Pacific Index declined 0.5%.The MSCI Emerging Market Index dipped 0.3%.
Currencies
The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index gained 0.1% to 1,159.78.The euro dipped 0.1% to $1.1855.The British pound decreased 0.1% to $1.3134.The Japanese yen strengthened 0.1% to 104.52 per dollar.
Bonds
The yield on 10-year Treasuries decreased one basis point to 0.81%.The yield on two-year Treasuries was unchanged at 0.15%.Germany’s 10-year yield gained less than one basis point to -0.58%.Britain’s 10-year yield rose one basis point to 0.255%.
Commodities
West Texas Intermediate crude increased 0.2% to $40.06 a barrel.Gold weakened 0.3% to $1,918.25 an ounce.
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