SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A new coronavirus that has killed 170 people in China and spread to over a dozen other countries has roiled global commodity markets, raising fears of weaker demand and disrupting raw material supply chains in the world’s most populous country.

BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s economic growth may drop to 5% or even lower due to the coronavirus outbreak, possibly pushing policymakers into introduce more stimulus measures, a government economist said in remarks published on Wednesday.

Prices of industrial commodities, led by copper, brent crude and rubber, declined by up to 9 per cent in less than two weeks because of weak demand caused by an extended New Year holiday in China, which has been hit by coronavirus outbreak.

Catheters, medical and sporting gloves, tires, condoms and some 50,000 other products depend on the more than 15 million tons of natural rubber produced every year, a researcher at Ohio State studying natural rubber production, said.

TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar held near a two-month high against a basket of major currencies while the Australian dollar and the yuan were under pressure on Thursday as investors tried to shield themselves from assets that could be hit by China’s virus epidemic.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Asian stocks slipped while gold and bonds were in demand on Thursday as worries about the spread of a new virus from China sent investors heading for safety.