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| Black Monday: Shares face biggest fall since financial crisis | Black Monday: Shares face biggest fall since financial crisis |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Shares around the world are facing their worst day since the financial crisis with the dramatic falls leading to the day being dubbed "Black Monday". | Shares around the world are facing their worst day since the financial crisis with the dramatic falls leading to the day being dubbed "Black Monday". |
| London's index of top shares ended the day almost 8% lower, with some £125bn wiped off the value of major UK firms. | London's index of top shares ended the day almost 8% lower, with some £125bn wiped off the value of major UK firms. |
| Similar falls took place across the US, Europe and Asia as a row between Russia and Saudi Arabia saw oil prices plunge. | Similar falls took place across the US, Europe and Asia as a row between Russia and Saudi Arabia saw oil prices plunge. |
| Shares were already reeling from fears of the impact of the coronavirus as cases globally continue to rise. | Shares were already reeling from fears of the impact of the coronavirus as cases globally continue to rise. |
| Analysts described the market reaction as "utter carnage". | Analysts described the market reaction as "utter carnage". |
| In the US, the major stock indexes fell so sharply at the start of trading, that the buying and selling of shares was halted for 15 minutes, as a so called "circuit breaker" aimed at curbing panicky selling came into effect. | In the US, the major stock indexes fell so sharply at the start of trading, that the buying and selling of shares was halted for 15 minutes, as a so called "circuit breaker" aimed at curbing panicky selling came into effect. |
| The Dow Jones industrial average fell more than 2,000 points, the biggest ever fall in intraday trading. | The Dow Jones industrial average fell more than 2,000 points, the biggest ever fall in intraday trading. |
| The dramatic drops were triggered by a row between between Saudi Arabia and Russia over oil output. Saudi said it would slash prices and pump more oil, sparking fears of a price war. The price of international oil benchmark Brent fell almost a third in its biggest drop since the Gulf War in 1991 before recovering slightly to trade 20% lower. | The dramatic drops were triggered by a row between between Saudi Arabia and Russia over oil output. Saudi said it would slash prices and pump more oil, sparking fears of a price war. The price of international oil benchmark Brent fell almost a third in its biggest drop since the Gulf War in 1991 before recovering slightly to trade 20% lower. |
| "There is panic setting in the market right now," said Andrew Lo, professor of finance at MIT's Sloan School of Management. "Things are going to get worse before they get better." | |
| "It's going to be a very difficult set of market conditions for people to navigate through over the next few months. One has to have a strong stomach," he added. | |
| The UK and US falls, were mirrored by similar falls in Europe, with the main stock market indexes in France, Germany and Spain all closing over 7% lower. | The UK and US falls, were mirrored by similar falls in Europe, with the main stock market indexes in France, Germany and Spain all closing over 7% lower. |
| "It shows a level of nervousness in the market which I haven't seen in a long time," said Justin Urquhart-Stewart, co-founder of Seven Investment Management. | "It shows a level of nervousness in the market which I haven't seen in a long time," said Justin Urquhart-Stewart, co-founder of Seven Investment Management. |
| Investors are selling stocks at such a rate because they cannot quantify what Saudi Arabia and Russia might do, he said. | Investors are selling stocks at such a rate because they cannot quantify what Saudi Arabia and Russia might do, he said. |
| In the UK: | In the UK: |
| Elsewhere on the markets, the price of gold hit a seven-year high, trading at $1,700 per ounce. Gold is often seen as a desirable asset to hold in times of uncertainty. | Elsewhere on the markets, the price of gold hit a seven-year high, trading at $1,700 per ounce. Gold is often seen as a desirable asset to hold in times of uncertainty. |
| And in a historic moment, the price on benchmark UK government bonds for two-, three-, four-, six- and seven-year maturities rose so high that yields - or the rate of return on the bond - briefly turned negative for the first time. A negative yield means investors will lose money from holding the bond. | And in a historic moment, the price on benchmark UK government bonds for two-, three-, four-, six- and seven-year maturities rose so high that yields - or the rate of return on the bond - briefly turned negative for the first time. A negative yield means investors will lose money from holding the bond. |
| Earlier on Monday, Asian stock markets had also fallen sharply, with Japan's Nikkei 225 index down 5% while Australia's ASX 200 slumped 7.3% - its biggest daily drop since 2008. | Earlier on Monday, Asian stock markets had also fallen sharply, with Japan's Nikkei 225 index down 5% while Australia's ASX 200 slumped 7.3% - its biggest daily drop since 2008. |
| In China, the benchmark Shanghai Composite fell 3%, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index sank 4.2%. | In China, the benchmark Shanghai Composite fell 3%, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index sank 4.2%. |
| Why should I care if stock markets fall? | Why should I care if stock markets fall? |
| Many people's initial reaction to "the markets" is that they are not directly affected, because they do not invest money. | Many people's initial reaction to "the markets" is that they are not directly affected, because they do not invest money. |
| Yet there are millions of people with a pension - either private or through work - who will see their savings (in what is known as a defined contribution pension) invested by pension schemes. The value of their savings pot is influenced by the performance of these investments. | Yet there are millions of people with a pension - either private or through work - who will see their savings (in what is known as a defined contribution pension) invested by pension schemes. The value of their savings pot is influenced by the performance of these investments. |
| Pension savers mostly let experts choose where to invest this money to help it grow. Widespread falls in share prices are likely to be bad news for pension savers. | Pension savers mostly let experts choose where to invest this money to help it grow. Widespread falls in share prices are likely to be bad news for pension savers. |
| As much as £600bn is held in defined contribution pensions at the moment. | As much as £600bn is held in defined contribution pensions at the moment. |
| So big rises or falls can affect your pension, but the advice is to remember that pension savings, like any investments, are usually a long-term bet. | So big rises or falls can affect your pension, but the advice is to remember that pension savings, like any investments, are usually a long-term bet. |
| Read more here. | Read more here. |
| 'Political poker' | 'Political poker' |
| The price of oil had already fallen sharply this year as the coronavirus disease began to spread internationally, with demand for fuel expected to decline. | The price of oil had already fallen sharply this year as the coronavirus disease began to spread internationally, with demand for fuel expected to decline. |
| Last week, oil exporters' group Opec - which includes Saudi Arabia - agreed to cut production in order to support prices. | Last week, oil exporters' group Opec - which includes Saudi Arabia - agreed to cut production in order to support prices. |
| However, it also wanted non-Opec oil producers such as Russia to agree to cuts, and on Friday Russia rejected the plans. | However, it also wanted non-Opec oil producers such as Russia to agree to cuts, and on Friday Russia rejected the plans. |
| In response, Saudi Arabia has cut its official selling prices for oil and plans to increase production. The move is seen as Saudi Arabia flexing its muscles in the oil market to make Russia fall into line. | In response, Saudi Arabia has cut its official selling prices for oil and plans to increase production. The move is seen as Saudi Arabia flexing its muscles in the oil market to make Russia fall into line. |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| by Andrew Walker, World Service Economics Correspondent | by Andrew Walker, World Service Economics Correspondent |
| The price of crude oil is about half the level it hit in early January. | The price of crude oil is about half the level it hit in early January. |
| The root cause of that is the coronavirus. It has hit demand for oil and some of the big exporters have been trying to stabilise its price. | The root cause of that is the coronavirus. It has hit demand for oil and some of the big exporters have been trying to stabilise its price. |
| Last week a group of them discussed production cuts. | Last week a group of them discussed production cuts. |
| But the biggest producer among them, Russia refused and the oil price fell further. | But the biggest producer among them, Russia refused and the oil price fell further. |
| Then at the weekend, Saudi Arabia, the biggest of the producers that were pressing Russia to agree output cuts, announced it would increase supplies and offered discounts to its buyers. That sent the oil price into freefall. | Then at the weekend, Saudi Arabia, the biggest of the producers that were pressing Russia to agree output cuts, announced it would increase supplies and offered discounts to its buyers. That sent the oil price into freefall. |
| That in turn undermined stock markets, although it wasn't the only factor. The lower oil price is a problem for the credit markets. | That in turn undermined stock markets, although it wasn't the only factor. The lower oil price is a problem for the credit markets. |
| Many American shale producers are likely to be unviable and they have borrowed in the high risk debt market, issuing what are called junk bonds. So there is the potential for losses for investors who hold those bonds. | Many American shale producers are likely to be unviable and they have borrowed in the high risk debt market, issuing what are called junk bonds. So there is the potential for losses for investors who hold those bonds. |
| Cheaper oil is obviously a benefit for users. Airlines have been hit by a decline in bookings, but cheaper fuel will offset that a little. And in time, there will be an impact on the price that motorists pay, although in many countries, including Britain, tax accounts for most of what they pay. | Cheaper oil is obviously a benefit for users. Airlines have been hit by a decline in bookings, but cheaper fuel will offset that a little. And in time, there will be an impact on the price that motorists pay, although in many countries, including Britain, tax accounts for most of what they pay. |