S&P 500 futures and Treasury yields drop on coronavirus concerns

Both the US stock futures and the government bond yields are flashing red on renewed coronavirus concerns and fading prospects of additional fiscal stimulus deal. 

At press time, the S&P 500 futures are down over 0.5% and boosting demand for haven currencies like the Japanese yen, while the US 10-year yield is hovering at a nine-day low of 0.761%. The benchmark yield hit a high of 0.872% on Oct. 23. 

The risk sentiment has weakened this week with the acceleration of the second wave of coronavirus infections across Europe and the US. Some of the Eurozone nations are reportedly considering imposing the economically-painful lockdown restrictions to contain the virus. Though less severe than the ones implemented in April/May this year, these measures could derail the already fragile global economic recovery.

As such, investors are moving out of risk assets and into traditional safe havens like treasuries, causing yields to drop. 

Additional bearish pressures for the yields look to be stemming from the fiscal impasse in the US. President Donald Trump acknowledged Tuesday that a coronavirus economic relief deal would likely come after the Nov. 3 election.