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Global appetite for stocks is souring on Thursday after China reported a staggering 15,152 new coronavirus cases due to different methodology, along with 254 deaths.
That is nearly a 15-fold increase on Wednesday, when signs of a slowing in the spread triggered a rally on Wall Street and elsewhere. But some say it may also be good news as more reliable numbers may start to emerge and there has also been a shake-up of officials.
Elsewhere, our call of the day focuses on brewing troubles for the U.S. economy. It comes from Julien Bittel, multi asset fund manager at Pictet Asset Management, who expects a recession by the fourth quarter of this year. And given a stock market correction has historically taken place in the months before, he has predicted an equity peak this summer.
He sees a lot of similarities between what is happening now and the year 2000—the market peaked in the front half of the year, followed by a recession. Bittel has lots of charts to back up his case, such as this one showing Jolts job openings (which measures U.S. job vacancies), at the lowest since the Global Financial Crisis, often a bad omen for employment:
He also highlighted trouble for the U.S. long-term business cycle, “linked to the less-cyclical areas of the economy so it’s the credit cycle, consumer confidence and the labor markets…these dynamics are all slowing,” he said.
He said what makes his call so contrarian is that most economists see a 25% recession possibility, while equity markets are factoring in only a 2% chance.
“I think investors are a bit naive going into this year, thinking that the gravy trains or rainbows will continue, but in order for that to happen earnings need to come back in a big way,” said Bittel, noting that 94% of last year’s stock rally was driven by a vigorous rise in prices
“A sustained move in equity markets that’s driven by multiple expansion cannot maintain itself unless you get a huge recovery in earnings,” and Bittel doesn’t see that happening, especially if growth is slowing.
His advice? Investors can use the next few months to pad out their retirement funds with stock gains, but then get ready to head for recession havens of bonds and gold, he said. Check out his Twitter account for lots more charts and gloom.
The market
The Dow YM00, -0.69%, S&P ES00, -0.67% and Nasdaq NQ00, -0.76% are tumbling on surging coronavirus numbers, with European stocks SXXP, -0.81% off sharply and Asian markets ADOW, -0.21% also posting losses, with a 0.6% fall in Hong Kong HSI, -0.34%.
The chart
The buzz
Insurer AIG AIG, -0.35%, food group Kraft-Heinz KHC, +0.10%, Pepsi PEP, +0.00% and Chinese multinational Alibaba BABA, +3.27% are rolling out results. Travel group Expedia EXPE, +1.62% and technology group Nvidia NVDA, +1.74% will report after the close. Also, we’ll hear from cannabis makers Aurora Cannabis ACB, -5.19% ACB, -5.19% and Canopy Growth CGC, -1.31%.
Cisco CSCO, +1.63% shares have been hit by the technology group’s lackluster forecast and layoff plans. Shares of Bloom Energy BE, +3.67% are slumping after the fuel-cell group said all earnings since its initial public offering have been flawed.
In Europe, drinks maker Pernod Ricard blamed the coronavirus for a guidance cut, and food giant Nestlé’s NSRGY, -1.25% NESN, -2.54% results also disappointed. Also, ACB, -5.19% U.K. authorities are probing the relationship between Barclays BARC, -2.44% BARC, +0.89% Chief Executive Jes Staley and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Weekly jobless claims and consumer prices are the big data to watch on Thursday.
Random reads
Dutch cruise ship shunned by several ports over coronavirus fears finally docks.
Waiters of Reddit dish on Valentine’s Day disasters they have witnessed.
Papa John’s founder comes clean on his claim of eating 40 pizzas.
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