Predicting market impact of coronavirus unhelpful: Eaton Vance

Eaton Vance’s emerging markets team noted that it could try to model impacts by looking at other similar viruses, such as SARS and MERS, which were also coronaviruses.

However, it said the virus appears to be spreading more rapidly than either SARS or MERS, yet the team doesn’t have enough information on how deadly it is to make a reasonable comparison.

“Also, those other coronaviruses emerged in countries that were comparatively small and, according to the World Health Organization, with better health care systems than China. The result is that the world is flying somewhat blind here,” Eaton Vance said.

“The coronavirus affects emerging markets economies through two main channels. First, and most obvious, is that an increase in uncertainty depresses asset prices. Until we have an idea of how widespread and how deadly the novel coronavirus is, we have to price more uncertainty into markets and this has the effect of moving asset prices lower.

“The second impact is that efforts to contain the virus in China through travel bans and extending the Chinese New Year holiday will reduce Chinese economic activity specifically, and global economic activity more generally. As the Chinese economy slows, countries that trade with China will be impacted.”

Eaton Vance added that, in Southeast Asia, this would mainly mean countries that are part of the Chinese manufacturing supply chain. Further, it said many Asian countries will be impacted as tourism from China likely declines and that, more broadly, commodities exporters globally will be hit as commodity prices fall due to reduced demand from China, with likely examples including exporters such as Chile, Saudi Arabia and Brazil.

On the other hand, the fund manager said that countries that have fewer direct economic ties to China and import commodities may do better, as falling import prices are a boost to their economies, like the Dominican Republic and Mexico.

“Until the world gets a better handle on the specifics of the coronavirus, uncertainty and caution will drive the impact on emerging markets and the rest of the global economy,” Eaton Vance said.

It is estimated that there have been more than 20,000 cases worldwide, with more than 99 per cent of those in China, and the vast majority of those in Hubei Province. While the virus has been detected in at least 23 countries, only 170 cases have been detected outside of China.

Adrian Flores

Adrian Flores is a deputy editor at Momentum Media, focusing mainly on banking, wealth management and financial services. He has also written for Public Accountant, Accountants Daily and The CEO Magazine.

You can contact him on [email protected].