FTSE 100 falls for first time this week by 1.75 per cent to 6,696 in wake of the collapse of FlyBe


Coronavirus will push the economy to the brink of recession, experts warn, as FTSE 100 falls for the first time this week by 1.75 per cent to 6,696 in the wake of the collapse of FlyBe

  • Britain’s blue-chip index opened slightly up, but reversed gains and fell by 1.75%
  • Signs of economic damage continues to pile up after airline Flybe collapse today
  • IMF now predicts that global GDP could see its slowest growth since 2008-2009

The coronavirus outbreak is set to push the UK economy to the brink of recession in the coming months, Goldman Sachs has warned.

In it’s most recent forecast the investment bank said the country’s output is set to contract by 0.2 per cent in the second quarter from January to March.

‘The UK is highly exposed to global activity (which we expect to contract in the first quarter), tourism exports are significant and the virus is spreading steadily within the UK,’ a note from the bank’s economists said.

It comes as the FTSE 100 fell for the first time this week on Thursday in the wake of the collapse of FlyBe and continued concerns over a global economic slowdown in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic.

Britain’s blue-chip index opened slightly up, but quickly reversed gains and fell by 1.75 per cent, to 6696 points.

The UK’s stock markets had rebounded since Monday following their worst week since the 2008 financial crisis, after coronavirus panic wiped more than £251billion off the value of Britain’s biggest companies.

Britain’s blue-chip index opened slightly up, but quickly reversed gains and fell by 1.75 per cent, to 6696 points

Grounded Flybe planes at Birmingham Airport today as the airline cancelled all flights with immediate effect and its jets were impounded

Grounded Flybe planes at Birmingham Airport today as the airline cancelled all flights with immediate effect and its jets were impounded

Signs of economic damage continues to pile up, however, with airline Flybe a high profile casualty on Thursday as it shut operations just a month after a publicly-sanctioned rescue.

Bank Standard Chartered, housebuilder Persimmon, and miners BHP Group and Rio Tinto , which were all trading without dividend entitlement, also dropped between 4.3 per cent and 5.1 per cent.

And broadcaster ITV also plunged by 9.1 per cent after a warning that total advertising revenue will be down due to a fall in travel advertising due to the virus. 

‘There is a certain amount of fear and nervousness in the market,’ said Keith Temperton, a trader at Tavira Securities. 

A surprise interest rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve on Tuesday pumped yet more money into financial institutions but it also added to a growing sense of panic among investors coddled by a decade of constant stock market gains.

There are now 90 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Britain, after three more were confirmed in Scotland this morning

There are now 90 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Britain, after three more were confirmed in Scotland this morning

The IMF now predicts that global GDP could see its slowest growth since 2008-2009 this year and Deutsche Bank analysts on Thursday cut their forecast for British economic growth in 2020 to just 0.5 per cent.

Deutsche’s economists outlined a range of expected official responses to the outbreak, including two cuts in interest rates by the Bank of England by May.

The market’s chief fear index was up 9 per cent at 34.91 on Thursday.

‘Markets might want to push for another Fed rate cut,’ Tavira’s Temperton said. ‘The European Central Bank, on the other hand, doesn’t have a lot of room. Once volatility markets are trading in the mid-30’s, things become very speculative.’

Miners, airlines and luxury goods makers were hit hard last week as the virus spread deeper in Europe and the United States and crippled supply chains and travel demand.

Shares in British Airways-owner IAG fell 1.9 per cent, while EasyJet was flat. 

The mining index declined 4.2 per cent, also pressured by a strong pound. 

UK outsourcer Capita Plc sank as much as 15% on signs its restructuring drive would require more capital.

The main European equity benchmark reversed early gains to trade down 0.8%.