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U.S stock futures and crude oil prices plunged immediately after the start of electronic trading late Sunday, as fears of a global oil-price war combined with coronavirus fears to rattle traders.
Dow Jones Industrial Average futures YM00, -4.02% sank more than 900 points as S&P 500 futures ES00, -4.35% and Nasdaq Composite futures NQ00, -4.06% tumbled more than 4%.
West Texas Intermediate crude for April delivery CLJ20, -21.10% plummeted 22% to $32.01 on Sunday, while May Brent crude BRNK20, -21.09% the global crude benchmark, fell 22% to $35.22 a barrel.
Oil futures plunged 10% on Friday after talks between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies collapsed, with Russia refusing to agree to a Saudi-led plan for additional crude production cuts.
In response, Saudi Arabia over the weekend slashed crude prices and is preparing to increase production, in a direct attack against Russia’s market share, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Analysts said a price war could push crude prices down to $30 a barrel, especially as the economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus outbreak slows global demand.
Read: OPEC+ oil-deal failure may lead to $30 oil
On the COVID-19 front, Italy virtually locked down its northern region Sunday, containing about a quarter of its population, in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. Meanwhile, a number of schools closed in California and events were canceled, as a cruise ship hit by coronavirus prepared to dock in Oakland on Monday, with authorities preparing plans to transport the 3,500 passengers to military bases around the country for testing and quartantine. As of Sunday, the virus had sickened 107,897 people worldwide, with 3,658 deaths.
On Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, -0.98% settled 256.50 points lower, or 1%, to 25,864.78, while the S&P 500 SPX, -1.70% lost 51.57 points, or 1.7%, to close at 2,972.37. The Nasdaq Composite COMP, -1.86% finished 162.98 points lower, or 1.9%, at 8,575.62.
Mark DeCambre contributed to this report.
