The Dow rose almost 450 points in the morning on news that global policy makers were turning on the fiscal taps. But then when news filtered in about the worsening crisis in California and New York both issuing unprecedented state-wide “stay at home” orders, panic selling again ensued dropping the index almost 1500 points to close down just over 900.  These moves by the two most populous states affect some 40 million people with more than 12,000 confirmed cases of infection nationwide today.  Everything is in limbo as the markets “are still trying to get a handle on how bad the economy is going to be” and news of entire states closing up affects “a lot of economic activity and a lot of businesses.”  Investors now are looking towards a fiscal stimulus plan for salvation.  The good news is that the VIX dropped to nearly 66 today, quite a change from nearly 83 on Monday, which is taken as a sign that investors may be seeing a bottom.  Volume was over 18 billion but this was due to quadruple witching so it can’t be trusted, except it may mean selling has slowed a bit.  Wait until Monday to get a better indicator. 

Fri  MARCH 20, 2020 / 5:30 pm 

Wall Street dives most in a week since 2008 as NY, California impose restrictions

Caroline Valetkevitch

DJ:  20,087.19  +188.27       NAS:  7,150.58  +160.73        S&P:  2,409.39  +11.29     3/19

DJ:  19,173.98  -913.21        NAS:  6,879.52  -271.06         S&P:  2,304.92  -104.47    3/20

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street wrapped up its worst week since October 2008, with the Dow and S&P 500 sliding more than 4% on Friday as tough restrictions by New York and California to try to contain the spread of the coronavirus fueled worries about damage to the economy.  New York Governor Andrew Cuomo early on Friday ordered all non-essential workers to stay home, following on the heels of California’s unprecedented statewide “stay at home” order issued late Thursday. 

The moves by two of the most populous U.S. states affects some 40 million people. Also, federal authorities this week moved to close the borders with Canada and Mexico, with more than 12,000 cases having been confirmed in the United States as of Friday.  “The equity markets are still trying to get a handle on how bad the economy is going to be, and I think news of entire states being closed probably qualifies as incrementally negative,” said Willie Delwiche, investment strategist at Robert W. Baird in Milwaukee.  It affects “a lot of economic activity and a lot of businesses.”

In early trade, the market briefly attempted to build on Thursday’s gains, as global policymakers turned on the taps to prop up financial markets reeling from weeks of heavy selling that ended Wall Street’s record 11-year bull run. The benchmark S&P 500 index is down more than 31.9% since its record closing high on Feb. 19.  Investors are now counting on further stimulus over the next few days, as the U.S. Senate mulls a $1 trillion package that would include direct financial help for Americans.  “The bottom line here is the market is clearly actively anticipating the fiscal stimulus plan. It’s almost like we’re going to continue to be in these volatile swings until we get a little more clarity on how large that plan is,” said Ryan Detrick, senior market strategist at LPL Financial in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI fell 913.21 points, or 4.55%, to 19,173.98, the S&P 500 .SPX lost 104.47 points, or 4.34%, to 2,304.92 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC dropped 271.06 points, or 3.79%, to 6,879.52.  All three major indexes registered their biggest weekly declines since October 2008, although the Cboe Volatility index - Wall Street’s fear gauge - ended the day down at 66.04, in what some investors saw as a sign that selling may subside

A Reuters poll of economists suggested the global economy was already in recession, while analysts at U.S. stock market index operator S&P Global said volatility across geographies and asset classes was at record highs.  “Quadruple witching” added to choppy trading on Friday, with investors unwinding positions in futures and options contracts before their expiration.

AT&T Inc (T.N) tumbled 8.7% as the wireless carrier said the outbreak might have a material impact on financial results and canceled a $4 billion share repurchase agreement.

The airlines sector .SPCOMAIR rose 2.4% after losing more than half its value since late February.

Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones on the NYSE by a 1.27-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.55-to-1 ratio favored decliners.  The S&P 500 posted no new 52-week highs and 94 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 5 new highs and 257 new lows.

Volume on U.S. exchanges was 18.56 billion shares, compared to the 15.5 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days.