We headed into Friday afternoon off the lows of the session but still down for the shortened trading week after coronavirus cases escalated, which in turn has the stock market worried about a pronounced global economic slowdown. China's National Health Commission reported more than 2,000 deaths in the mainland, with 75,00 confirmed cases. That news is a jump of 800 new cases overnight. South Korea also said 52 new cases on Thursday, making its total cases 150.
All three major indexes will end the week in negative territory with the S&P 500 losing roughly -1%, the DOW is down -1.3%, and the NASDAQ is sitting right below the -1% mark at -.98%.
Adding to the economic worries were falling existing home sales and a less than stellar IHS Markit U.S. composite purchasing managers' index (PMI) report. Continue reading "Stocks Fall As Coronavirus Cases Escalate"