Global stocks outlook still positive, but vulnerable to coronavirus

Last year was a bumper year for stocks, with all 17 top global indexes polled by Reuters ending the year higher than where they started. Only one did not rise by a double-digit percentage. However, all but one are in the red so far this year, with most losses sustained over the past five trading days amid fears that the coronavirus outbreak will become a pandemic.

BENGALURU: Global stocks have further to run this year, but the likelihood of a correction of 10% or more is high, according to Reuters polls of market strategists, with the severity of the economic hit from the coronavirus outbreak being the biggest risk.

Last year was a bumper year for stocks, with all 17 top global indexes polled by Reuters ending the year higher than where they started. Only one did not rise by a double-digit percentage.