Updated Mar 5, 2020 - Economy & Business

Wall Street returns to sell-off mode as coronavirus fears mount

Courtenay Brown

Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Stocks closed down more than 3% on Thursday, while yields on the benchmark government bond — considered a safe-haven asset — hit new lows.

Why it matters: Market volatility isn't letting up, and fears continue to mount about the coronavirus' impact on the economy and businesses. The S&P 500's biggest decliners Thursday were cruise-lines and airlines — including Royal Caribbean, Carnival and American Airlines.

By the numbers: Thursday's losses erased nearly all of Wednesday's 4% gains. The index is back in correction territory, or 10% below its record high.

  • The best-performing S&P 500 stock on Thursday was Kroger, which said it was benefiting as anxious consumers stockpiled pantry staples, per the Wall Street Journal. Shares rose more than 8%.

Of note: The yield on the U.S. 10-year treasury note hit a record low of 0.898% on Thursday, reflecting investors' fears about the global economy as the coronavirus outbreak spreads.

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Yield on U.S. 10-year bond breaks 1% for first time ever

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The yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury fell below 1% for the first time ever after the Fed unexpectedly cut rates to shield the economy from any coronavirus impact.

Why it matters: Yields on the benchmark 10-year note have fallen by more than 90 basis points in just the first two months or so of 2020. That's a huge move in a short amount of time — and reflects investors' appetite for safe-haven assets and pessimism about the global economy.

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