Markets thrive on data. Investors like to know what’s going on. They hate uncertainty.

How bad is the coronavirus outbreak in the United States? Due to lack of testing, Wall Street doesn’t know. The slow response by the Trump administration, and the president’s attempt to play it down when numbers clearly showed cases on the rise only adds to the anxiety.

Much of corporate America is taking the lead, on its own, to protect employees. Conflicting advice from Trump and others in the. administration has fueled this panic.

The other major factor in the crash is an oil war. That post is coming soon.