Wall Street stock markets dropped so precipitously on Monday’s opening bell that a 15-minute delay in all trading conducted was triggered.
Such a trigger happens on trading when the S&P 500 dips below 7 percent from its previous close, Bloomberg reported. If the rate drops down to 20 percent below its previous close, Wall Street itself will close for the day.
It’s the first time since 2008, during The Great Recession, that the trigger mechanism was utilized. On Monday, the halt on trading came about just mere minutes after the opening bell rang.
In addition to S&P’s big losses, the Dow Jones also dropped by 1,800 points, more than 7 percent, while NASDAQ went down by 6 percent in the early morning hours of trading, ABC News reported.
.@ABC NEWS SPECIAL REPORT: Stock trading halted as markets plunge worldwide amid coronavirus fears. https://t.co/qZ8WPJmjwW https://t.co/lblNM3tz5O
— ABC News (@ABC) March 9, 2020
The sudden declines in the market came about for two major reasons: first, the continued worries over coronavirus and its global spread have created; and second, a deal between OPEC nations that fell apart, prompting a trade war between oil-rich nations.
The huge dropoffs, in some experts’ minds, demonstrate how fragile the market has been for quite some time now. Yet just two weeks ago, President Donald Trump implied there was nothing to worry about, even regarding coronavirus’ effects on the marketplace, on the same day that there was a drop in market numbers.
The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA. We are in contact with everyone and all relevant countries. CDC & World Health have been working hard and very smart. Stock Market starting to look very good to me!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 24, 2020
“The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA…Stock Market starting to look very good to me!” Trump said on February 24 of this year.
If the stock markets continue to plunge for a long period of time, it could spell disaster for Trump’s re-election chances, as he’s frequently cited the economy as his top selling-point for being given a second term in office.
David Rothschild, an economics journalist, noted that the stock market going into a “free fall” would be a bad look for an administration plagued with so many other non-economic issues already.
President Trump kept saying: don't mind the kids in cages, the Muslim Travel Ban, the 3,000 dead in Puerto Rico, the 10's of millions funneled to Trump businesses, the shady deals with autocrats, just look at the stock market. Well, the stock market is a in a free fall. pic.twitter.com/toWCbIw1zF
— David Rothschild 🌻 (@DavMicRot) March 9, 2020
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