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- Global equities ease from this week's record highs, after US data shows Americans barely hit stores last month, igniting concern over the threat of COVID-19 to the economy.
- COVID-19 cases in Europe continue to surge, with infections in France passing 2 million and the UK recording the biggest daily increase since May, knocking utilities and construction stocks.
- Government bond yields eased, although safe havens such as the Swiss franc and gold fell against the dollar.
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Global stocks eased, while safe-haven bonds gained on Wednesday, after a downbeat report of US consumer spending fed concern over the resilience of the world's largest economy, even after news in the last week of the progress towards an effective vaccine against COVID-19.
World stocks have hit record highs this week, driven by optimism over the progress of drugmakers Pfizer and Moderna in developing a successful vaccine against COVID-19.
But the rapid spread of this new wave of the virus is forcing a growing number of US states to enforce restrictions and mask mandates, which could start to drag on overall economic activity. In October, when daily cases were rising at a rate of around 65,000, consumers already brought spending to a near halt.
Data from the Census Bureau on Tuesday showed retail sales, which account for three quarters of total US economic activity, rose by 0.3% in October. This was against expectations for a rise of 0.5% and after September's downwardly revised gain of 1.6%.
UBS strategists Artur Danilov and Stuart Kaiser said in a note: "As a widespread vaccine distribution may not start until mid-21, US consumers expect social restrictions to extend and continue to lower their employment views. Personal financial and economic views are fading, too, as the recovery is slowing, and with a divided government more likely the expected fiscal stimulus is muted."
A UBS survey of consumer attitudes showed a higher proportion of respondents expect a job to be more difficult to find than easier in 6 months. It also found that lower proportions of respondents expected the economy and financial situation to improve, rather than get worse.
The MSCI All-World index was last down 0.1% on the day, reflecting losses on Japanese, Chinese, and European markets.
Futures on the three major US benchmark indices traded between 0.1 and 0.2% higher, teetering on the edge of negative territory, suggesting the start of trade later might see only a modest rise.
In Europe, cases of COVID-19 passed 2 million in France, while the UK recorded the largest daily increase in infections since mid-May. Meanwhile, Germany could face months of lockdowns, according to economy minister Peter Altmaier.
The Stoxx 600 was almost unchanged on the day, as losses in telecoms, utilities and construction stocks offset gains in retail, technology and basic resources. London's FTSE 100 was the worst-performing index in the region, with a loss of 0.3% on the day.
Overnight, the Nikkei dropped by more than 1%, retreating slightly from this week's 29-year highs, while the Shanghai composite fell 0.%
Milan Cutkovic, an analyst at Axi, said in a note: "Investors are being confronted by gloomy COVID-19 figures. The second lockdown will lead to a slower economic recovery in Europe, and there are concerns about how long some of the harsher restrictions will remain in place."
He added: "For the stock market rally to extend beyond recent highs, further support measures by governments and central banks will be needed to counter the economic damage."
Government bond yields eased, highlighting a modest influx of safe-haven cash. German 10-year yields fell by 1 basis point to -0.569%, while 10-year Treasuries declined by 3 basis points to 0.846%. US 10-year yields have fallen by 9 basis points in just two trading days and have retraced around 60% of the rise that ensued after the election on November 3.
Bitcoin prices surged by more than 8% to their highest in three years, topping $18,000. Cryptocurrency bull Mike Novogratz said on Tuesday he expected the price to hit $65,000.
Gold, meanwhile, failed to pick up a safe-haven bid, trading around 0.2% lower on the day, at $1,881 an ounce. Data last week showed money managers cut their bullish holdings of gold futures to their lowest level so far this year.
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