Strain on Sovereign Wealth Funds Could Spark Another Stock Market Plunge

• The U.S. stock market is at risk of a further sell-off as sovereign wealth funds ready to dump stocks.
• Oil prices are straining the cash-buffer of wealth funds, and selling stocks would alleviate some pressure.
• The U.S. economy faces additional pain as regional economies slump.

The U.S. stock market has recovered by 16.3% since hitting its new low on March 23. The $2 trillion relief bill alleviated pressure off of equities. But, as sovereign wealth funds prepare to sell stocks in the near-term, equities face another sell-off.

JPMorgan strategist Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou told CNBC that wealth funds in Saudi Arabia and other oil-producing countries are likely to have dumped up to $150 billion in stocks already. He expects them to dump an additional $75 billion worth.

Institutional Sell-Off Paves Way for Deeper Stock Market Correction

Throughout March, the U.S. stock market has seen unprecedented levels of institutional sell-off.

TS Lombard chief U.S. economist Steven Blitz says that the sell-off of stocks and Treasuries show financial institutions are under significant stress to raise cash to “meet margin calls.”

In the Middle East, the situation has been arguably worse as a result of the ongoing oil war with Russia. Sovereign wealth funds are estimated to have lost $1 trillion since the stock market started to plunge.

Oil-rich sovereign funds typically maintain large cash-buffers to prepare for an abrupt drop in the price of oil, as seen in early March.

Panigirtzoglou said that sovereign wealth funds will likely continue with heightened selling in the second quarter of 2020.

Things Are Getting Worse for Oil Companies

As of March 29, a barrel of oil is being traded at around $21. It crashed to $5 briefly in several markets, including Canada.

Edward Moya, senior market analyst at Oanda, says that the oil price could see another major plunge in the near-term. Saudi Arabia and Russia will likely move forward with their plans to release a record high supply of oil in April.

The price of oil has plummeted by 65 percent in a short period of time. Another 20 percent drop would add immense pressure on sovereign wealth funds.

As the coronavirus continues to proliferate, expect additional strain on the U.S. economy. We’re likely only getting started.