SINGAPORE- Asian stock markets bounced on Wednesday as China’s response to a virus outbreak tempered fears of a global pandemic, although Shanghai shares slipped amid worries about a hit to domestic demand and tourism.
Fears of contagion, particularly as millions travel for Lunar New Year festivities, has pushed stocks from record peaks.
The outbreak has revived memories of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic in 2002-03, a coronavirus outbreak that killed nearly 800 people and hurt world travel.
Yet this time, China’s response and candor – in contrast to the initial cover-up of the SARS outbreak – has tempered some of the gravest fears about the possible global fallout.
China’s National Health Commission said on Wednesday there were 440 cases of the new virus, with nine deaths so far. Measures are now in place to minimize public gatherings in the most-affected regions.
The Shanghai Composite index recovered from an early 1.4 percent drop to trade 0.5 percent lower by mid-morning. Markets elsewhere advanced, driving the MSCI index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan up 0.5 percent.
Japan’s Nikkei, Korea’s Kospi index and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng all rose by more than half a percentage point after heavy drops on Tuesday. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 shrugged off worries to hit a fresh record high.
“The call here is not that the virus is done or nipped in the bud by any means,” said Kay Van-Petersen, global macro strategist at Saxo Capital Markets.
“But there have been no big further reported outbreaks, and the response from the Chinese authorities has been very, very positive…China is 1.4 billion people. This is not the first time they’re tackling a bug that’s gotten out of hand.”
The outbreak, from its origin in Wuhan, China, has reached the United States, Thailand, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.
Cases have been confirmed in 13 Chinese provinces.
The World Health Organization (WHO) meets later on Wednesday to consider whether the outbreak is an international emergency. — Reuters
