Equity Futures Dive as Pandemic Spreads: Coronavirus Tweets of the Day
Equity futures are taking a big hit this evening in response to an escalation in the coronavirus pandemic.
Equity futures are taking a big hit this evening in response to an escalation in the coronavirus pandemic.
The WHO still has not put out a global pandemic alert.
However, it's clear the virus is spreading exponentially in many countries and on at least two continents.
Italy Update
- 11 towns, 50,000 people, placed in lockdown.
- Armed forces and police forces have been mobilized to form an insurmountable "health belt" around contagion areas. Roadblock violators risk up to a 3 months prison sentence.
- Schools closed in Lombardy, Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Emilia Romagna, Liguria, and in Trentino Alto Adige regions. Universities closed in Piedmont.
- Mayor of one of the towns in lockdown says they've run out of coronavirus testing kits.
- 78 new cases in Italy and 1 new death.
- Carnival in Venice and all sport and public events in Veneto cancelled.
- All public and private events, including sport, cultural, and religious events in Lombardy cancelled. Movie theaters closed.
- More than 40 football matches, including at least 4 Serie A games, postponed.
- Armani cancels his fashion show today in Milan.
- Teatro alla Scala in Milan suspends all performances.
Japan Update
- 12 new cases
- One new case was a woman in her 50s who works as a part-time school lunch attendant in Hokkaido. She had sore throat on February 15. She wore a mask, a white coat, and gloves, and carried lunches to 194 school children from the serving room to each classroom using a wagon.
South Korea Update
- President Moon Jae-in raised the alert level to maximum (Level 4: Serious) thus empowering the government to lock down cities and restrict travel. “The coming few days will be a critical time for us” he said in an emergency meeting.
- 166 new cases and 4 new deaths in South Korea.
South Korea Progression
- Feb. 18: 31 cases
- Feb. 19: 58 cases
- Feb. 20: 111 cases
- Feb. 21: 209 cases
- Feb. 22: 433 cases
- Feb 23: 602 cases
The above from Worldometers
US Equity Futures
- S&P 500: -40 Down 1.22%
- Nasdaq: -159 Down 1.7%
South Korea Kospi Index Plunges 3%
China Race against the Clock
China Lockdown Stats
New Iran Officials Soon Needed
Jim Bianco on South Korea
60% Decline in French Tourists
Iran Schools Closed
Mike "Mish" Shedlock