Stocks recover after global sell-off

An index of emerging-market shares stabilised on Friday after Asian stocks cut early losses, as investors took comfort from liquidity injections and governments explored other measures to calm markets.
Stocks at first plunged, after world markets plunged overnight on fears that the coronavius pandemic would cripple global growth. But Indian shares rose 4 per cent after losing as much as 10 per cent and Philippine shares gained 1 per cent.
MSCI's index of emerging-market shares traded 0.3 per cent lower. Stocks in mainland China , South Korea and Taiwan fell 1.2 per cent to 3.4 per cent but were above their session lows.
China has been reporting declining number of new coronavirus infections and South Korea for the first time reported more recovering cases than new ones.
Stocks in Turkey, Russia, Hungary and Poland rallied 0.8 per cent to 3.8 per cent.
"There is expectation of some support over the weekend, especially from US side - there have been talks about a spending plan. That could provide some sort of boost from the fiscal side," said Mitul Kotecha, senior emerging markets strategist at TD Securities.
"It is also exhaustion. Markets have been pounded all week. You can't call this a turn in sentiment. As we go into the weekend there is some hesitation, as you don't know what may be announced."
The US Federal Reserve said it will inject another $1 trillion on Friday in an effort to stop borrowing costs from rising, in addition to Thursday's $500 billion. Central banks in Australia and Japan also made billions of dollars worth of injections.
South Korea's financial regulator said it will ban short-selling for six months from March 16, while central banks in Indonesia, Russia, Brazil, Mexico all intervened to buy local bonds. In many countries, governments have curtailed travel and banned public gatherings.
Markets have sold off this week on fears that measures to contain the coronavirus will cause a significant economic slowdown in United States and Europe. An oil shock added to the worries.
The week has so far wiped off $14 trillion in value from world stock markets. MSCI's EM stocks index is set for its worst week since the October 2008 global financial crisis. Emerging-market currencies also recovered. Rising oil prices helped Russia's rouble come back from four-year lows and the Mexico peso rebounded from all-time lows.
China's yuan rose 0.6 per cent, breaking a four-day losing streak. India's rupee advanced 0.9 per cent in what could be its best one-day gain in seven months.
Turkey's lira rose for the first time in five sessions, up 0.6 per cent. Data on Friday showed Turkish industrial production rose 7.9% year-on-year in January, the fifth consecutive rise as a recovery from recession gathered pace, but missed expectations.
After using massive stimulus to recover from a 2018 currency crisis, Turkey is poised to stretch its central bank and public finances even more to defend the economy from the coronavirus pandemic.