Budget and Q4 results to take centre stage

IN RECENT weeks, the Covid-19 spread has left a sizeable dent in sentiment as investors worry about the economic repercussions brought about by the outbreak.

Given that China's role in the global economy has grown greatly since 2003's severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) epidemic, as well as the aggressive response by authorities to contain Covid-19, the financial impact on economies and companies is expected to be worse.

Since late January, local equities have been sold off and while there have been recoveries in between, they were short-lived.