When China sneezes, the world catches a cold. This old adage for the role the country plays in global economic growth is getting a new interpretation as the coronavirus outbreak which started in Wuhan threatens to spread to a stock market near you.
The mainland's mysterious outbreak, which has now killed 17, stopped a miniboom in its tracks. This week began with optimism about the "phase one" trade war truce between Beijing and Washington and about scattered hints Chinese growth might be stabilizing.