S&P/ASX 200 Index (INDEXASX: XJO) shares including Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) slumped to 52-week lows on Monday.
Fears over the coronavirus outbreak and a 30% slump in oil prices put fear into investors yesterday. Saudi Arabia, OPEC and Russia continue to disagree on how to handle the oil market in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic.
However, the domino effect has begun and investors aren’t just worried about COVID-19 anymore. Markets are now pricing in an RBA interest rate cut in April to what would be 0.25%. There’s also the chance that the Australian economy could get tipped into a recession by the middle of the year. A recession is when an economy records two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth, which is looking more and more likely.
Here are just five of the forty-three ASX 200 shares that are trading at 52-week lows right now.
BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)
The BHP share price was one of the ASX 200 shares to be slumping lower on Monday. BHP shares fell 14.41% lower yesterday to a new 52-week low of $27.55 per share. BHP’s $95 billion market cap (now $81 billion) also weighed down the ASX 200 with concerns that slowing global economic growth will mean lower demand for iron ore and other key minerals.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)
CBA shares slumped 6.47% lower to a new 52-week low of $69.15 per share on Monday. Investors sold out of the Aussie bank for two key reasons. Another likely RBA interest rate cut is likely to squeeze the bank’s profit margins even more in 2020. Meanwhile, fears over a recession mean that default rates could rise and asset quality could deteriorate.
Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)
The Westpac share price was another ASX 200 bank to hit a new 52-week low and is now down 19.44% for the year. Westpac shares are facing the same pressures as CBA with the Aussie banking sector feeling the heat right now.
Amcor PLC (ASX: AMC)
The Amcor share price fell to a new 52-week low of $13.26 per share on Monday. The ASX 200 blue-chip share fell 5.76% yesterday as investors fear for the global packaging industry in a potential downturn.
Brambles Limited (ASX: BXB)
Brambles shares are at a new 52-week low of $10.60 per share today after slumping on Monday. Disruptions in the global supply chain from the coronavirus outbreak have hurt the Brambles share price and sent the ASX 200 share plummeting 8.86% yesterday.
