Dow futures down 770, airlines slide, Apple drops

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The VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF (SMH) and the iShares PHLX Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) were both down more than 3% in the premarket, putting them on pace to break below their respective 50-dayy moving averages for the first time since Feb. 3. AMD, Nvidia, Micron and Lam Research led the ETFs lower in the premarket. —Francolla, Imbert

Gold futures gained more than 2% to around $1,680 per ounce, reaching its highest level since Jan. 23, 2013 as investors fled riskier assets such as stocks amid coronavirus concerns. The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX) gained 3.5% in the premarket, putting it on pace for its best day since Aug. 23. —Francolla, Imbert

Oil prices are following U.S. stock futures lower as concerns over the coronavirus outbreak took a bite out of global economy growth expectations. West Texas Intermediate futures were down about 4%, on pace for their worst day since Jan. 8, when they dropped 4.9%. U.S. crude also hit its lowest level since Feb. 18. Brent futures were down 4.2% and reached their lowest level since Feb. 13. —Francolla, Imbert

As fears over the coronavirus sent stock market futures spiraling lower Monday, traders increasingly looked to the Federal Reserve for a rescue. The market is now pricing in a better than even – 53% – chance of an interest rate cut at the central bank’s April meeting, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch tool. That’s the most aggressive pricing during this cycle and reflective of how anxious Wall Street is getting over the disruptive threat the virus poses. The anticipation has gotten to the point now where traders are assigning a 39% of three cuts before the end of 2020. —Cox

Stock futures tumbled on Monday, with the Dow set to open about 700 points lower, as spiking coronavirus cases in Italy, South Korea and the Middle East spark fears of further spread beyond China. The S&P 500 is set to drop 2.4% at the open, which would be the biggest plunge since August 2019. —Li

Technical analysts saw some weak internals in this market at the end of last week, which could be why the decline Monday is a little more severe than expected. Stocks were vulnerable to a decline. “The market is becoming very narrow in terms of stocks that have outperformed the S&P 500 over the last three months,” wrote JC O’Hara, chief market technician for MKM Partners, over the weekend. “Currently, this is the smallest group of winners since the 2007 market top.” —Melloy

The Federal Reserve may be forced to cut interest rates this year as worries about the coronavirus keep spreading, according to an Evercore ISI note to clients on Monday. “With outbreaks of the Wuhan virus in South Korea and Italy suggesting that it may be on the brink of morphing into a global pandemic we raise our estimate of the likelihood that the Fed cuts interest rates this year to 45 per cent,” strategist Krishna Guha said. “We would rather have a vaccine than a rate cut and fully recognize that monetary policy is not optimized for addressing this type of shock,” he said. —Bloom

Headlines over the weekend about a surge in coronavirus cases reported outside of China dented market sentiment to start off the week. South Korea said the number of people infected now totals more than 750. In Italy, the government said more than 130 cases have been confirmed along with three deaths. Iran has also confirmed more than 40 cases and eight deaths stemming from the coronavirus. These reports sent not only U.S. risk markets tumbling; they also dragged down global markets. —Imbert

Stocks not directly tied to the coronavirus fears are also very weak in premarket trading as investors sell popular positions in a risk off move. Netflix shares were off 4%. Amazon, Microsoft and Disney all dropped more than 3%. —Melloy

U.S. stock futures are falling sharply on Monday morning as investors dump riskier assets amid a spike in coronavirus cases outside of China. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were down more than 800 points. S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures were down by 2.7% and 3.2%, respectively. South Korea raised on Sunday its coronavirus alert to the “highest level,” with the latest spike in numbers bringing the total infected to more than 750 — making it the country with the most cases outside mainland China. Italy has also reported three deaths related to the coronavirus and more than 100 cases. —Imbert

With reporting from Yun Li, Jeff Cox and Gina Francolla.

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