Squawk Box Europe Express

Oil price war. Crude prices crash 30 percent in the worst day since the Gulf War, as Saudi Arabia floods energy markets, looking to punish Russia for obstructing OPEC-Plus output cuts. Asian stock markets plunge with the Nikkei hitting a 14-month low and Australia's benchmark index posting its worst fall since the financial crisis, while US futures trade limit down, pointing to another rough day on Wall Street. US 10-year treasury yields hit a new record low as the prospect of rates turning negative becomes a reality, while the 30-year yield goes below 1 percent for the first time ever. Over 16 million people are put into lockdown in Italy as the government takes drastic measures to stem the worst outbreak outside China. But leaks of the action cause confusion and a rush across regional borders. And finally women rally across the globe to mark International Women's Day, upping calls for equal pay and fair representation.

A week of swings… The Dow suffers another near-1,000 point drop, as Coronavirus fears take hold again while Asian equities move deeper into the red. The yield on the U.S. 10-year treasury falls to another record low, nearing 0.8 per cent. Bond king Jeffrey Gundlach tells CNBC the outbreak has put a fork in the economy and could tip the U.S. into recession. Oil prices slide despite OPEC's decision to make the biggest output cut since the 2008 crisis, if Russia gets on board. Secretary-General Mohammed Barkindo tells CNBC extreme circumstances warrant the move.

On the up… Chinese stocks hit a two-week high after the Dow surges more than a thousand points boosted by healthcare stocks and Joe Biden's strengthened bid in the Democratic presidential race. The U.S. House of Representatives passes an $8bn emergency funding bill to combat COVID-19, while the IMF sets aside a $50bn aid package, as managing director Kristalina Georgieva warns global growth will slow this year. Oil prices start to rebound as Opec meets in Vienna, with Russia reportedly pushing back against Saudi plans to slash supply cuts even further. And in corporate news, troubled UK regional airline FlyBe goes into administration just two months after securing a controversial government rescue deal. Coronavirus is cited as adding to the carrier’s woes.

Emergency action: the Federal Reserve surprises markets with the biggest rate cut since 2008, but fails to lift sentiment. The Dow plunges nearly 800 points, while Asian stocks lack direction. But the emergency measure, designed to tackle the impact of the virus outbreak, sends the U.S. 10-year treasury yield below 1 per cent for the first time ever. The WHO warns the death rate of Coronavirus is higher than originally anticipated, adding that travel restrictions are not enough to contain it. The economic pain is detailed further as China's services sector records its worst month on record, plunging to just 26.5 and escalating a string of disappointing data. And in the U.S., Democrat hopeful Joe Biden eyes victory on Super Tuesday following early results but Bernie Sanders is forecasted to win in delegate-heavy California.

Bouncing back…Wall Street closes a turbulent day sharply higher, as the major indices roar back from last week’s sell-off. The Dow posts its biggest point gain ever, fuelled by a rally in Apple shares. Chinese stocks mostly follow suit, but the Nikkei fails to build on the rally. The ECB is the latest central bank to pledge support to mitigate the economic impact of Coronavirus, saying it is ready to adjust all instruments. The RBA becomes the first to act, cutting rates by 25 basis points to a record low and G7 finance ministers are set to hold an emergency call to discuss the crisis. We also preview the Super Tuesday showdown in the U.S. where one third of delegates are up for grabs. Joe Biden’s campaign is gaining momentum against frontrunner Bernie Sanders following endorsements from several more former Democrat rivals.  

China contracts…PMI numbers show factory activity nosedives in February but local stock markets are up, in anticipation of stimulus from the PBOC. We are live in Riyadh where we speak exclusively to the WHO director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He tells this channel that while the window for containing Coronavirus globally is narrowing, markets shouldn’t panic. Despite the outbreak death toll surpassing 3,000 and the first reported American fatalities, U.S. futures turn to the upside. In Italy, the government has announced it will pump €3.6bn into the economy to mitigate the impact of the virus and avoid a recession. And in corporate news, Nokia CEO Rajeev Suri has agreed to step down amid reports of a potential sale due to struggling profits at the telco giant.

Worst week…the Dow Jones plunges by more than 1,000 points into correction territory as Coronavirus fears rise. Global stocks look set to post their deepest losses since the 2008 financial crisis. Asian equities nosedive in Friday’s session and U.S. futures point lower once again, while the market’s volatility gauge, the VIX, is on track to make its second-biggest weekly jump in history. The outbreak also fuels expectations the Fed could ramp up easing measures, with investors predicting at least three rate cuts this year, sending the dollar sharply lower against the euro. But a major takeover is forged despite the sell-off, as German industrial titan ThyssenKrupp agrees to shed its elevator unit to a private equity consortium for more than €17bn - the biggest buyout in Europe since 2007.

The Nikkei leads the Asian sell-off after the Dow fails to hold onto gains amid rising Coronavirus fears. American health authorities confirm a first potential ‘community-spread’ case in northern California and the number of fresh Coronavirus cases reported outside China tops those reported in the country for the first time. President Trump plays down fears of a global pandemic and puts Vice-President Mike Pence in charge of his administration’s response. In Germany, however, the reaction is more urgent with health minister Jens Spahn urging state health authorities and employers to brace for a possible accelerated outbreak in the federation. In corporate news, Standard Chartered posts a 46 per cent jump in full-year profits but says that meeting its 2020 targets will be hindered by slowing global growth as well as the Coronavirus. We speak to the Asia-focused lender’s CEO, Bill Winters, on set. We are also live in Zurich where LafargeHolcim cites ‘solid’ Chinese performance for its record net full-

Pandemic panic. The Dow Jones suffers its worst two-day points loss in history with $1.7tn wiped off U.S. stocks. Fears of a global Coronavirus outbreak balloon with new cases reported in previously unaffected European countries and U.S. authorities warn a pandemic is likely, telling Americans to prepare for a possible 'community spread' of the infection. Investors head for safe havens and virus fears plunge the U.S. 10-year T-note to an all-time low. Shares across Asia follow the sell-off, but U.S. futures look to bounce back.We speak to the best and brightest in the private equity world at the SuperReturn International conference in Berlin, as the industry’s returns underperform a major U.S. stock index for the first time. And it’s another big earnings day in Europe with numbers from mining giant Rio Tinto, French carmaker PSA, consumer goods conglomerate Danone and healthcare group Alcon.

Bouncing back from a Wall Street sell-off. The Dow Jones nosedives by more than 1,000 points or 3.5 per cent – it’s worst single-day fall in two years – as fears of a global Coronavirus pandemic grow. The Nikkei follows suit but U.S. futures point to a rebound Stateside after American biotech firm Moderna sends the first batch of its Coronavirus vaccine to U.S. government researchers. The rapidly developed drug will start human trials at the end of April. Oil prices also rise slightly following a near-four per cent slump and gold pares gains after a safe-haven stampede saw the metal hit a seven-year high. We speak to the Saudi oil minister live, who tells us he is unconcerned about the impact of the virus. We also get the latest from Italy, as the north of the country remains on lockdown due to the outbreak and the Italian stock market suffers its worst day since the Brexit vote. Finally, we discuss the impact on corporate earnings, after billionaire investor Warren Buffett tells CNBC that the sell-

Italy on lockdown… almost a dozen cities across Lombardy and Veneto are quarantined by authorities in a bid to quell the largest outbreak of Coronavirus seen outside Asia. The virus dominates discussions at the G20 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin exclusively telling this channel that the economic impact of the virus will not be apparent for another month. Meanwhile the IMF has pared back its Chinese and global growth forecasts and French finance minister Bruno Le Maire tells CNBC that his country is already counting the cost of reduced tourist footfall as a direct result of the outbreak. And in corporate news, Unicredit denies CEO Jean-Pierre Mustier will be leaving for HSBC and will remain to focus on the Italian lender’s new 2023 strategy.

Fears remain… Wall Street closes in the red on global coronavirus concerns but Chinese shares are higher as Beijing insists that its key manufacturing provinces are rapidly coming back online. Federal Reserve vice-chairman Richard Clarida claims the U.S. economy looks to be in good enough shape to ride out the outbreak but says the central bank is continuing to monitor the situation. EU leaders have been locked in overnight negotiations over the bloc’s next budget. Commission president Ursula Von Der Leyen tells this channel that modern climate and digital policies must feature in the agreement. And Unicredit’s CEO Jean-Pierre Mustier is reportedly set to take over from Noel Quinn at the head of HSBC amid a huge personnel overhaul at Europe’s largest bank. We also have earnings from Valeo, Allianz and Pearson.

All change at UBS… Sergio Ermotti steps down as CEO to be replaced by ING boss Ralph Hamers in November. In the U.S., the S&P 500 and Nasdaq hit record highs and Chinese stocks follow suit to the upside. The Coronavirus crisis prompts the PBOC to cut its benchmark lending rate to help mitigate the economic impact of the outbreak. The White House’s acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, voices concerns that the U.K.’s decision to allow Huawei to launch its 5G network may have ‘direct and dramatic’ consequences on intel-sharing between London and Washington. Staying in the U.S., Michael Bloomberg is attacked from all sides in the Democratic primary debate in Las Vegas for his record while mayor of New York. And it’s a bumper day of European earnings, with numbers from Schneider Electric, Swiss Re, Air France-KLM and more.

Asia rebounding: equities across the continent trade higher as China reports a slowdown in the increase of Coronavirus cases, and Japanese exports fall less than expected. In the U.S., Apple closes almost 2 per cent lower after its revenue warning, dragging on the Dow Jones, but the Nasdaq ekes out another record close. The outbreak is already causing havoc for Jaguar Land Rover with the auto maker resorting to flying parts out of China in suitcases. CEO Ralf Speth tells this channel that his supply chain will be under threat in a fortnight. And in an NBC/WSJ poll, Bernie Sanders is in the lead in the Democratic primary race with Michael Bloomberg increasing his figures. The billionaire media tycoon has said he would sell his company if elected president.  

A shock warning… Apple says it will fail to meet quarterly revenue guidance, as the coronavirus outbreak disrupts iPhone sales and weighs on demand. Asian Apple suppliers sell off, dragging on the broader equity markets. HSBC says 35,000 jobs will be lost over the next 3 years amid the lender's strategy overhaul. The bank's shares see red in Hong Kong after full-year profit misses expectations, falling 33 per cent. In commodities news, strong iron ore prices help lift half-year profit at BHP but the miner still posts a slight miss, as CEO Mike Henry tells CNBC the coronavirus impact has been limited. In Italy, Intesa Sanpaolo makes a nearly €5bn bid for UBI Banca, which could create the eurozone’s seventh-largest bank. And Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg is in Brussels where the EU’s industry commissioner saying the social media giant must adapt to the bloc’s rules rather than the other way around.

More cases confirmed: China reports more than two thousand new cases of coronavirus, pushing the death toll to over 1,700. In response, Hubei province bans all vehicle traffic while France reports the first death outside Asia. Chinese stocks jump as the PBOC cuts its medium-term lending rate by 10 basis points, in an effort to curb the economic impact of the virus. Elsewhere in Asia, recession fears rise as Japan's GDP contracts by more than 6 percent in the fourth quarter. BoJ Governor Kuroda says the coronavirus is the top risk facing the world's third-largest economy. In the aerospace industry, Airbus says it 'deeply regrets' a US decision to hike tariffs on European-made aircraft, as the White House trade office raises the stakes in the 15-year long dispute over subsidies. In Europe, the U.S. warns nations against doing business with Huawei, as Defense Secretary Mark Esper tells CNBC exclusively that Washington is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to find a viable 5G alternative.

Assessing the economic impact of the coronavirus. Chinese officials say over 63,000 people have now contracted the disease, as President Donald Trump's top economic advisor criticizes Beijing's response. Larry Kudlow tells CNBC “we thought there was better transparency coming out of China, but it doesn't appear to be. I know they revised their numbers up a bit. They say it's a different method of counting. We just don't know. It's the great unknown.” Meanwhile, S&P Global has warned China that it could see its credit rating downgraded, if it were to fight the economic impact of the virus with ramped-up fiscal spending. We discuss updated forecasts for the Chinese economy, and Europe’s biggest economy, as Germany prepares to release its latest GDP figures. The CEO of German industrial gases company Linde tells CNBC in an exclusive interview that he cannot think of a country, “where the industrial production rates are actually higher going into 2020 than 2019.”

China sees a sharp spike in new coronavirus cases and fatalities prompting Beijing to revise its method for counting infections. The Chinese government also dismisses senior Hubei province officials for their handling of the outbreak. Earnings take centre stage in Europe. Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam oversees his final set of earnings at the helm of the Swiss bank, after it lowered its profitability target for the fourth quarter, but some analysts expect a positive surprise in the bond business. Restructuring costs drag rival Commerzbank into a net loss for Q4, causing the German lender to cut its dividend for the year. Finally, we speak to the boss of health and nutrition company DSM about the coronavirus outbreak. He tells CNBC that most operations in China are still running.

Confident but cautious...Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell tells Congress that the U.S. economy remains very resilient but acknowledges that the ongoing coronavirus is still a threat – this on the day that China confirms its lowest number of new cases since late January. In the New Hampshire Democratic primaries, Senator Bernie Sanders pips Iowa caucus winner Pete Buttigieg to victory and leaves former Vice-President Joe Biden trailing in fifth place. Shares in Softbank surge on the judicial approval of the Sprint-T-Mobile tie-up but a series of bad investment decisions weigh on the Japanese tech giant, driving quarterly operating profit down 99 per cent. It’s better news for Heineken, which reports a solid set of fourth-quarter earnings but cautions it’s too early to assess the full impact of the virus outbreak. And we are live in Cairo at Egypt’s petroleum show, EGYPS 2020, where U.S. Assistant Energy Secretary Frank Fannon tells CNBC that Europe is set to find itself in a gas and LNG supply tug-of-war

The coronavirus claims its 1,000th victim with more than a hundred new cases confirmed in a day. A number of Chinese officials have been removed over their handling of the outbreak, while more economists update their growth forecasts. Analysts at Citi slash their first-quarter China GDP guidance to 3.6 per cent. Italian luxury winter couture brand Moncler has also given a cautious outlook due to a ‘critical’ business environment in China where store footfall has plunged by up to 80 per cent. Asian equities, however, have followed U.S. stocks higher with Amazon pushing the S&P and Nasdaq onto fresh record highs. And on the earnings front, travel operator TUI says the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max continues to weigh on profits, but withholds comment on the impact of the virus outbreak. German luxury car maker Daimler slashes its dividend amid its latest profit warning.