What the 2003 SARS epidemic tells us about the potential impact of China’s coronavirus on oil and metals

The outbreak of coronavirus in China has led to concerns over a slowdown in the nation’s economy and put pressure on oil and industrial metals prices on bets for potentially weaker demand for the commodities. However, if the 2002-2003 SARS epidemic serves as a guide, the overall impact of the virus may be modest and short lived on the global economy as well as on the commodities sector.