World stocks on back foot as China COVID cases rise

LONDON, Nov 21 (Reuters) – World stocks and oil prices fell on Monday as fresh COVID-19 curbs in China fuelled worries over the global economic outlook.

The safe-haven dollar rallied, while the U.S. Treasury yield curve remained deeply inverted in a sign that investors remain alert to global recession risks.

Coronavirus outbreaks across China are a setback to hopes for an easing of strict pandemic restrictions, one factor cited for a 10% slide in oil prices last week and Monday’s lacklustre opening in European stocks.

Beijing’s most populous district urged residents to stay at home on Monday as the city’s COVID case numbers rose, while at least one district in Guangzhou was locked down for five days.

This knocked major European bourses (.STOXX), with markets in Frankfurt and Paris softer, while S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures slipped 0.5% and 0.8% respectively.

MSCI’s broadest index of world shares (.MIWD00000PUS) fell 0.5%.

The U.S. Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday and the distraction of the World Cup could make for thin trading, while Black Friday sales will offer an insight into how consumers are faring.

A risk-off feeling kicks off the week, Fiona Cincotta, a senior markets analyst at City Index in London, said.

“There is demand for safe havens like the dollar and riskier assets are on the back foot,” she added. “The other thing to bear in mind is that we have had a strong rally, so there is a feeling of need to take stock of where we are.”

The dollar was up 1.1% against Japan’s yen at 141.94, having hit its highest since Nov. 11. The pound and the euro fell by 0.7% and 0.8% respectively, edging off from last week’s 18-week highs.

China’s yuan eased to a 10-day low against the dollar on Monday on the worsening COVID-19 infection numbers.

PRICED FOR RECESSION

Atlanta Federal Reserve President Raphael Bostic on Saturday said he was ready to step down to a half-point interest rate hike in December but also underlined that rates would likely stay high for longer than markets expect.

Inflation has trended lower since June when it was around 9.1%, raising expectations that a peak in Fed rates is near.

“But, if the Fed signals a relaxation too soon, they could loosen monetary conditions too much. And that’s why they’re talking about the possibility that rates could be higher for longer,” said Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK.

“It’s just jaw boning to make sure that markets don’t price a pivot too soon,” he said.

Bond markets suspect the Fed will tighten policy too far and tip the economy into recession. The Treasury yield curve, measured by the gap between two and 10-year bond yields, is at around -70 basis points (bps) and nearing the level last seen in 2000

Two-year Treasury yields were last up 2 bps on the day at 4.53% , while…