US markets end lower as anxiety about coronavirus returns

06 Mar 2020 Evaluate

The US markets ended lower on Thursday, erasing most of the steep gains in the previous session, on worries over the global spread of COVID-19 and its effect on the economy and supply chains continued to hang over the market. Investors continue to monitor developments regarding the coronavirus outbreak that has now spread worldwide, as confirmed cases reach more than 95,000 globally. Coronavirus infections in South Korea have jumped to more than 6,000, with the Korea Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention revealing that three more people died from the virus, bringing the total to 35. Switzerland has also reported its first death from the virus, while the number of cases in Germany rose by 87 to 349. California declared a state of emergency after a coronavirus-related death in the state, where there are at least 53 confirmed cases.

On the economic data front, the Labor Department released a report showing a modest decrease in first-time claims for US unemployment benefits in the week ended February 29. The report said initial jobless claims edged down to 216,000, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 219,000. Street had expected jobless claims to slip to 215,000. Meanwhile, a separate report from the Commerce Department showed new orders for US manufactured goods pulled back by much more than expected in the month of January. The Commerce Department said factory orders slid by 0.5 percent in January after surging up by 1.9 percent in December. Street had expected factory orders to edge down by 0.1 percent.

Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 969.58 points or 3.58 percent to 26,121.28, Nasdaq declined 279.49 points or 3.1 percent to 8,738.59 and S&P 500 was down by 106.18 points or 3.39 percent to 3,023.94.

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