Asian stocks fell on Wednesday, ending two sessions of consecutive gains as the death toll of coronavirus rose around the world.
Investors were rattled as mainland China s new coronavirus cases doubled in 24 hours due to overseas travellers.
In New York, COVID-19 hospitalizations seemed to be decreasing. However, the death toll in the United States climbed to 1,800.
The erratic swings in the oil market caused the MSCI s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan to drop 0.7%. Shanghai blue chips fell 0.6%, while Nikkei gained 0.4%.
S P 500 e-mini futures rocked between gains and losses, while EUROSTOXX futures plunged 1.1%.
The S P 500 closed Tuesday with 0.16% losses. The Nasdaq sank 0.33% and the Dow 0.12%.
U.S. President Trump said the United States may be reaching the peak of the coronavirus curve. The Trump administration also asked Congress to release an additional $250 billion emergency economic stimulus for small businesses.
The dollar fell 0.1%, at 108.80 against the Japanese yen, while the euro slipped 0.2%, at $1.0865.
The dollar index rose 0.2%, at 100.170.
https://www.umarkets.com/en/news/asian-shares-fall-as-coronavirus-deaths-rattle-investors