(Updates story published on Dec 20 with final year-end numbers)
By Marc Jones and Ritvik Carvalho
LONDON, Dec 31 (Reuters) &#8211; Last December, the first infection with the new coronavirus was reported to the World Health Organization. Twelve months later, as the charts below show, global financial markets have been on a roller coaster like no other.

JANUARY JITTERS
The coronavirus wasn&#8217;t even the first thing that spooked the markets this year. The tone was set when an escalation of an oil market turf war between Saudi Arabia and Russia sent oil prices crashing more than 5% on Jan 8.
Just days later, though, China&#8217;s stock markets began to fall as a cluster of more than 50 pneumonia cases in Wuhan city sparked a warning from the WHO that there could be a new SARS-like virus.
Oil continued to fall as traders began worrying about a drop in Chinese demand, but other major markets were not seriously affected until mid-February, when it became clear the virus was rapidly spreading out of Asia.
Cue carnage. From Feb. 20 to March 24, as Europe&#8217;s big economies locked down, MSCI&#8217;s 49-country world share index lost more than a third of its value, haemorrhaging a staggering $18 trillion.
Wall Street&#8217;s S&amp;P 500, Dow Jones and Nasdaq slumped 35%, 38% and 30% respectively. London and Frankfurt&#8217;s internationally exposed FTSE and DAX markets dropped 35% and 40%. Japan&#8217;s Nikkei fell 30% . Chinese stocks saw a more modest 16% drop.
&#8220;In retrospect, I felt I was one of the villagers in the boy who cried wolf story,&#8221; said Ben Inker, head of asset allocation at investment firm GMO.
&#8220;We had seen a number of potential pandemics never really develop &#8230; we were assuming that this was going to be contained, and when it didn&#8217;t we understood why the world was freaking out.&#8221;
For reference, the record quarterly drop for Wall Street was 40% in 1932, the onset of the Great Depression. The fact that the S&amp;P and Dow were at record highs in mid-February made the crash this time seem more brutal.

MARCH MADNESS
Governments were already trying to shore up their economies, but just as in the financial crisis a decade previously, it took powerful central bank medicine to steady the markets.
The Federal Reserve&#8217;s move to cut U.S. interest rates to zero in mid-March initially had zero impact, but once it opened new swap lines to keep money markets flush with dollars and the European Central Bank and other big central banks arrived with their own measures, the rout eased.
The amount of money and effort thrown at the problem has been unprecedented.
Bank of America calculates that central banks have spent $1.3 billion an hour buying assets since March and made 190 interest rate cuts this year, which works out to four every five trading days. Global debt is approximately 400% of world gross domestic product, compared with around 280% after the financial crisis in 2009.
As well as fuelling the monster market rebound, JPMorgan estimates the central bank moves have left nearly $35 trillion, or 83%, of all richer, developed nations&#8217; government debt with a negative yield once inflation is factored in.
It means investors are effectively paying for the privilege of lending to those countries. Germany&#8217;s finance ministry, for example, says it has earned more than 7 billion euros ($8.51 billion) from issuing new bonds this year.
RECORD PLUNGE
Locking down much of the world economy has not been easy.
By April the International Monetary Fund was forecasting global growth would to fall to minus 3 percent, a 6.3 percentage point downgrade from its January estimate. Its latest forecast is for minus 4.4% for the year. &#8220;This makes the Great Lockdown the worst recession since the Great Depression, and far worse than the Global Financial Crisis,&#8221; it has said.
Unemployment and global debt levels have also surged, and the World Bank warns global extreme poverty is set to rise for the first time in over 20 years.
It could push an additional 88 million to 115 million people below the breadline this year and as many as 150 million by the end of next year.
APRIL FALLS
Stock markets were beginning to recover in April, but the shocks did not stop. Oil went negative for the first time ever , dropping as low as minus $40 a barrel, as oil producers began to fear storage capacity could run out.
It did not last long, though. By the end of April it was back up to almost $20 a barrel and is now back above $50 &#8211; a 220% gain for anyone brave enough to dive in &#8211; although it is still down nearly 25% for the year as a whole.
WINNERS AND LOSERS
A breakdown of the best- and worst-performing stocks also tells the story of the pandemic, which has now claimed nearly 2 million lives.
Malaysian rubber glove maker Supermax and Korean pharmaceutical firm Shin Poong have rocketed roughly 780% and 1,600% respectively.
The boom in working from home and video chat has lifted Zoom 420%. Moderna, one of the drug firms delivering a vaccine, is up over 470%, sit-on-your-sofa stocks like Netflix and Amazon have jumped 62% and 77% respectively.
The other big trend of the year &#8211; electric cars &#8211; has seen Tesla surge 730% and its rival Nio charge up over 1,000%.
At the other end, cruise ship company Carnival has lost 57%, scores of airlines, travel firms and retailers have been battered, and aircraft-engine maker Rolls Royce has been pummelled over 50% for the year.
EMERGING HOPE
Major currencies have also seesawed. The safe-haven dollar surged up until the mid-March turnaround but is now down 7% for the year and 6% since late September, whereas the euro and yen are up roughly 10% and 5%.
Sweden&#8217;s crown is the top 2020 performer with a near 13% jump. A 6.5% surge for China&#8217;s yuan will be one of its best year&#8217;s, too. But there is still plenty of pain in emerging markets.
Brazil&#8217;s real is down 22%. Russia&#8217;s rouble &#8211; one of last year&#8217;s top performers &#8211; is down 17% despite a bounce and near bullet-proof balance sheet. Turkey&#8217;s lira has climbed off record lows but is still down 19%. Mexico&#8217;s peso and South Africa&#8217;s rand are both down 4% to 5%, although they were down 14% and 20% respectively at the end of September.

NOVEMBER REIGNS
November was also key. First came the U.S. election defeat for Donald Trump, which raised hopes some of the global trade tensions would ease. Then days later came the long-awaited news that one of main vaccine hopes had proved over 90% effective in protecting people from COVID-19.
That double boost saw a record 12.6% monthly leap in the MSCI world stocks index, adding approximately $6.7 trillion &#8211; or $155 million a minute &#8211; to the value of world equities.
It is still going. Stocks are now up over 14% for 2020 and 70% off their March lows. U.S. and German government bonds and corporate debt have all returned between 10% and 14%, gold is up 24%, while the super-sized FAANG tech stocks group are up over 100% and cryptocurrency Bitcoin more than 300%.
&#8220;The 2020 stock rally from lows is now bigger than 1929, 1938, 1974; high prices clashing with positioning (is) verging on greedy bullish,&#8221; BofA analysts wrote in note pointedly titled &#8216;Frankenbull&#8217;.
(Additional reporting by Dhara Ranasinghe and Thyagaraju Adinarayan in London; editing by Philippa Fletcher, Larry King)
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Click For Restrictions &#8211; https://agency.reuters.com/en/copyright.html
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GRAPHIC-A (markets) journal of the plague year

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Bitcoin has reached record highs this year, smashing through the $23000 mark yesterday. The cryptocurrency is on a supercharged rally, as interest for it grows, particularly from institutional investors. Some are saying that if Bitcoin keeps this momentum, it could test $36000 next year. Joining CNBC Africa for a conversation on the cryptocurrency is Tone Vays, Blockchain &#038; Bitcoin Analyst.

What’s behind the Bitcoin’s supercharged rally?

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Bitcoin has rallied to all-time highs in recent months, as the cryptocurrency rises as an alternative investment. Joining CNBC Africa to provide more insight on the performance of Bitcoin and the outlook going into the next year is Marius Reitz, General Manager for Africa at Luno.

Bitcoin: A player for the future?

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The past month has seen a steep uptake of cryptocurrencies with bitcoin in particular seeing an almost 50 per cent jump. But what does the future hold for crypto on the continent? CNBC Africa spoke to the Executive Director of the Africa Blockchain Institute, Kayode Babarinde for more.

How COVID-19 is accelerating digital currency uptake in Africa

Bitcoin Surges Higher

Bitcoin Surges Higher, And The IRS Wants To Know Who’s Cashing Out: CNBC After Hours

Bitcoin’s Surge Past $16

Bitcoin’s Surge Past $16,000, Explained: CNBC After Hours

<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/?symbol=BTC.CB=">Bitcoin</a>&nbsp;briefly climbed above the $16,000 mark on Thursday, hitting a level not seen since early January 2018.



The cryptocurrency’s price rose as high as $16,019 just after 5 a.m. ET, according to data from industry site CoinDesk. It was last trading more than 1% higher at around $15,800.



The last time bitcoin breached the $16,000 level was Jan. 8, 2018, according to CoinDesk data. The reason for the move higher on Thursday wasn’t immediately clear, but it comes as a number of companies appear to be warming to crypto.



Last month, fintech giant <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/?symbol=PYPL">PayPal</a> announced it would add new features letting users trade bitcoin, ether, bitcoin cash and litecoin. By early 2021, the company also plans to let customers use crypto to shop with its network of 26 million retailers.



Meanwhile, Square said last month that it had bought $50 million worth of bitcoin. The U.S. fintech firm, which is run by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/?symbol=TWTR">Twitter</a>&nbsp;CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/jack-dorsey/">Jack Dorsey</a>, has long offered crypto services to users of its popular Cash app.



Bitcoin, the world’s best-known and most valuable cryptocurrency, has more than doubled in price this year, a wild ascent that’s reminiscent of its monster rally in late 2017 that saw it narrow in on the $20,000 mark.



Some crypto fans say it’s down to the unprecedented wave of stimulus from governments and central banks around the world aimed at tackling the coronavirus crisis. Such measures, they say, devalues fiat currencies, making bitcoin an attractive alternative.

106737355-1602234446157-gettyimages-872670632-set04375-bitcoin_24oct2017_kw0564

Bitcoin breaks above $16,000 for the first time since January 2018

LAGOS (Reuters) &#8211; Ozioma Egemasi says Nigerian police slapped, whipped and struck him with the butt of a pistol when he refused to pay them a bribe. Then he heard them discuss whether to kill him.



The 24-year-old music label manager shared his experience on Instagram, one of thousands of mostly young Nigerians who are taking to social media to speak out against alleged abuses by police and to coordinate ongoing protests.



Thousands of people have taken to the streets daily across the country in one of the biggest shows of public anger in 30 years, posing a major challenge to President Muhammadu Buhari amid an economic slump made worse by the coronavirus pandemic.



“I was scared. It meant they were willing to do anything to get whatever they wanted to get from me,” said Egemasi, recalling the January encounter with members of Nigeria’s Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS).



Reuters could not independently verify his account. A Lagos state police spokesman did not respond to phone calls and a text message seeking comment on the allegations.



The police force has previously denied accusations against SARS that are fuelling the unrest, although it said earlier this month that “unruly and unprofessional” officers had been arrested and were facing disciplinary actions.







Other concessions have been made since nationwide demonstrations began on Oct. 8: SARS was disbanded on Oct. 11 and a new police unit, the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, was created to “fill the gaps”.



But it has not had the desired effect. Protesters say they have heard such promises before and demand deeper changes, including the prosecution of police accused of wrongdoing.



Rallying under the #EndSars hashtag and harnessing social media to raise awareness and funds and to garner support from international celebrities, protesters have built a momentum that previous actions led by civil groups and unions failed to do.



There are clear parallels with anti-government movements in places like Hong Kong and Belarus, said Antony Goldman, chief executive of London-based political risk advisory firm ProMedia Consulting.



“They have increasingly connected young, urban populations that have found a cause, and social media has triggered very rapid momentum,” Goldman said.



RELATED COVERAGE<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nigeria-protests-police-minister/nigerian-anti-police-protesters-must-enter-dialogue-minister-says-idUSKBN2741ZT"></a><a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nigeria-protests-police-minister/nigerian-anti-police-protesters-must-enter-dialogue-minister-says-idUSKBN2741ZT">Nigerian anti-police protesters must enter dialogue, minister says</a>



The Nigerian protesters have drawn support from Black Lives Matter activists in the United States, including the movement’s co-founder Opal Tometi, and from Canadian rapper Drake and British-Nigerian actor John Boyega.



A Twitter account using the name of the internet activist collective Anonymous said last week it had hacked into Nigerian government websites in solidarity with the #EndSars campaign. Government officials did not confirm any breaches. [L8N2H80L6]



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tech-targets">TECH TARGETS?</h2>



Members of Nigeria’s burgeoning tech industry, a bright spot for foreign investors in Africa’s most populous nation, say they are often singled out by police for spot checks.



Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, co-founder of software developer training firm Andela and payments company Flutterwave, said so many employees had been harassed that his companies had protocols in place to call senior police officials in the event of an arrest.







Egemasi said his laptop and financial transactions on his cell phone aroused the suspicion of the five SARS officers who stopped him in a Lagos street at the start of the year.



“This happens all the time to young people because they believe we are young and not supposed to have that kind of money,” he told Reuters.



He said he was freed after paying a 500,000 naira ($1,300) bribe.



As he spoke, Egemasi was surrounded by more than a thousand protesters at a toll gate in the upmarket Lekki district of Lagos on Saturday.



Music blared out of tall speakers. A giant electronic billboard displayed slogans such as “Soro Soke”, a Yoruba phrase meaning “Speak Up”. And activists doled out free food and collected litter in black plastic bags.Slideshow&nbsp;( 5 images )



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crowdfunding">CROWDFUNDING</h2>



Such gatherings have largely been financed through crowdfunding, activists say.



The Feminist Coalition, a Nigerian rights group coordinating some of the logistics, said on its fundraising page it had received more than 73 million naira ($192,000) as of Sunday.



The funds have been used to hire private security guards to defend protesters against armed gangs who attacked some demonstrations last week, pay for private ambulances and cover the legal bills of more than 70 participants arrested across Nigeria, according to a spokeswoman for the group.



Two Nigerian banks closed the group’s accounts last week, so they converted their savings to bitcoin and started fundraising in the cryptocurrency, she added.







The crowdfunding has helped make the demonstrations among the biggest and longest-running in decades, said Cheta Nwanze of SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based risk advisory firm.







The provision of free food was a “very good use of resources,” he added. Most people live on less than $2 a day.



“It’s helping to sustain the momentum.”

shutterstock_306272309

With Instagram, hashtags and bitcoin, young Nigerians boost anti-police protests

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Retail-focused cryptocurrency exchange Luno, says the legality of Bitcoin and other crypto-assets varies significantly across Africa as over 60 per cent of African governments are yet to clarify their position. They also describe Africa as one of the most promising regions for the adoption of cryptocurrencies. Luno’s General Manager for Africa, Marius Reitz joins CNBC Africa’s Esther Awoniyi to discuss the state of crypto regulation on the continent.

What’s the state of crypto regulation in Africa?

LAGOS/LONDON (Reuters) &#8211; Four months ago, Abolaji Odunjo made a fundamental change to his business selling mobile phones in a bustling street market in Lagos: He started paying his suppliers in bitcoin.



Odunjo sources handsets and accessories from China and the United Arab Emirates. His Chinese suppliers asked to be paid in the cryptocurrency, he said, for speed and convenience.



The shift has boosted his profits, as he no longer has to buy dollars using the Nigerian naira or shell out fees to money-transfer firms. It is also one example of how, in Africa, bitcoin &#8211; the original and biggest cryptocurrency &#8211; is finding the practical use that it has largely failed to elsewhere.



“Bitcoin helped to protect my business against the currency devaluation, and enabled me to grow at the same time,” Odunjo told Reuters from his two-by-eight metre shop.



“You don’t have to pay charges, you don’t have to buy dollars,” the 30-year-old said, raising his voice above the sound of loud haggling and the honking horns of scooters.



Odunjo is one of many people at the heart of a quiet bitcoin boom in Africa, driven by payments from small businesses as well as remittances sent home from migrant workers, according to data shared exclusively with Reuters and interviews with around 20 bitcoin users and five cryptocurrency exchanges.



Monthly cryptocurrency transfers to and from Africa of under $10,000 &#8211; typically made by individuals and small businesses &#8211; jumped more than 55% in a year to reach $316 million in June, the data from U.S. blockchain research firm Chainalysis shows.



The number of monthly transfers also rose by almost half, surpassing 600,700, according to Chainalysis, which says the research is the most comprehensive effort yet to map out global crypto use. Much of the activity took place in Nigeria, the continent’s biggest economy, along with South Africa and Kenya.



This represents a reversal for bitcoin which, despite its birth as a payments tool over a decade ago, has mainly been used for speculation by financial traders rather than for commerce.



Why a boom in Africa? Young, tech-savvy populations that have adapted quickly to bitcoin; weaker local currencies that make it harder to get dollars, the de facto currency of global trade; and complex bureaucracy that complicates money transfers.



The bitcoin users interviewed by Reuters, based in five countries from Nigeria to Botswana, said the cryptocurrency was helping people make their businesses nimbler and more profitable, and helping those working in places like Europe and North America hang on to more of the earnings they send home.



Yet risks abound.



Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are unregulated in many countries and their legal status is unclear, meaning there is no safety net and little recourse if you lose funds.



For many, converting local currencies to and from bitcoin relies on informal brokers. Prices are volatile, and buying and selling is a complex process that demands technical knowledge.



In 2018, the Nigerian central bank warned cryptocurrencies were not legal tender, and investors were unprotected.

A security man administers sanitiser to a visitor to a state hospital in Lagos, on February 28, 2020. PIUS UTOMI EKPEI | AFP via Getty Images

How bitcoin met the real world in Africa

At the first-ever <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/future-of-work/">Future of Work Virtual Conference</a> hosted by CNBC Africa, on August 20, more than 2,000 global viewers engaged with industry experts on digital opportunities for the continent.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1110" height="740" src="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/GettyImages-1177340837-1110x740.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-379902" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/GettyImages-1177340837-1110x740.jpg 1110w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/GettyImages-1177340837-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/GettyImages-1177340837-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/GettyImages-1177340837-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/GettyImages-1177340837-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/GettyImages-1177340837-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/GettyImages-1177340837-696x464.jpg 696w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/GettyImages-1177340837-1068x712.jpg 1068w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/GettyImages-1177340837-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/GettyImages-1177340837-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px" /><figcaption>At the first-ever <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/future-of-work/">Future of Work Virtual Conference</a> hosted by CNBC Africa, on August 20, more than 2,000 global viewers engaged with industry experts on digital opportunities for the continent.</figcaption></figure>



At the all-day virtual summit, the second panel discussion, titled ‘Cybersecurity for the distributed, hyperconnected workplace’, hosted by Chris Bishop, delved into why protecting valuable data and other corporate resources from cybercriminals is key.



The session included as panelists Patrick Grillo, Senior Director of Security Strategy at Fortinet; Algirde Pipikaite, Project Lead, Industry Solutions, Centre for Cybersecurity: World Economic Forum; and Eric Mc Gee, Associate Director: Cyber Risk Services Team: Deloitte.



Pipikaite noted that cybercrime is on the increase globally because the possibility of being caught is very low and the rewards are high. “This has been further accentuated by the use and abuse of the coronavirus pandemic over the last seven months… The good news is that [cybercrime] cases have fallen to 61,000 on a weekly basis when compared to the 200,000 in the first month of the pandemic, but the bad news is that normal attacks are on the increase again,” said Pipikaite.



Mc Gee said Africa has also seen a large increase in attacks focused on the pandemic. “We’ve seen two major attacks this week alone in South Africa and Africa and it will continue. The topic of the day [Covid-19] will be the means used to attack individuals.”



Grillo noted the sophistication of the attacks, saying a few years ago it was ransomware, then cryptojacking – using other people’s computers to mine Bitcoin – and now it’s Covid-19. “While true hackers are out there – those who find the unknowns and take advantage of it, hacking or launching cyber-attacks is now a service.”



You don’t have to be hacker to do it, all you need is money because going on the dark web, you can find whatever you need, he pointed out. “They’re priced by day or week, have service level agreements, beta-testing, alpha-testing; it is a business.”



Pipikaite also added that hackers are taking note of the number of organizations who will let staff work remotely and are automating and advancing their technologies to exploit that.



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“Africa has enormous potential to turn cybersecurity into a massive opportunity due to its young population when compared to the rest of the world, said Pipikaite.



“By providing a digital skillset education focused on cybersecurity awareness and the importance of it, Africa could ensure that their future economy will be secure.”



Grillo shared key points on how organizations can protect themselves and counter cybersecurity threats. “An ongoing education process is absolutely essential to take what is normally the weakest link in the chain and make it your first line of defence.” He added that companies should run their own campaigns to try to trick employees into giving up information.



“There is no one technology that will keep an organization safe and quite honestly, no technology,” said Grillo.



“There are multiple layers to security; you want to prevent or block as much of these attacks coming in, because regardless of the headlines, the vast majority of malware that&#8217;s used in these attacks is something we already know about.”

Security padlock in circuit board

‘Increase In Cyber-Attacks Focused On Covid-19’

What Twitter’s Big Hack Means For The 2020 Elections

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This morning, the world woke up to news that Twitter accounts of US prominent figures were targeted by Hackers, in a Bitcoin scam. The incident paints a very worrying picture concerning social media security. Joining CNBC Africa to discuss these security breaches in the technological space is Raj Wanniappa, CEO of Future Horizon Technologies.

How secure are your social media accounts?

Bitcoin may one day supplant the dollar

Bitcoin may one day supplant currencies

Coronavirus updates: China reports 8 new cases, wife of Canadian PM tests positive

<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/arjun-kharpal/"> Arjun Kharpal</a><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://twitter.com/ArjunKharpal" target="_blank"> @ARJUNKHARPAL</a> KEY POINTS



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>The value of the entire cryptocurrency market fell over $26 billion on Monday. </li><li>Bitcoin, the biggest cryptocurrency by value, fell 10% in 24 hours. </li><li>Other big digital coins ethereum, XRP and bitcoin cash, posted double-digit losses.  </li><li>The sell-off in digital coins followed a plummet in oil prices. </li></ul>



Cryptocurrency markets plunged following a plummet in oil prices and further sell-off in stocks.&nbsp;



The market capitalization or entire value of cryptocurrencies was down$26.43 billion from a day earlier at around 1:17 p.m. Singapore time, according to data from Coinmarketcap.com. The sell-off worsened as the day went on.&nbsp;



<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/?symbol=BTC=">Bitcoin</a>, the biggest cryptocurrency by value, fell over 10% in 24 hours at around the same time.



READ: <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/coronavirus/2020/03/09/african-european-markets-set-to-plunge-on-oil-price-crash-and-coronavirus-spread/">African, European markets set to plunge on oil price crash and coronavirus spread </a>



The violent sell-off in the cryptocurrency market comes after international oil benchmark&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/?symbol=@LCO.1">Brent crude</a>&nbsp;futures&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/08/oil-plummets-30percent-as-opec-deal-failure-sparks-price-war-fears.html">plummeted 30% to $31.02 per barrel, its lowest level since Feb. 2016.</a>&nbsp;That was sparked by Saudi Arabia slashing its official selling prices for oil after OPEC failed to agree a deal on production cuts. This has led to fears of an oil price war. Brent has since pared some of its losses.&nbsp;



Meanwhile, stock markets in Japan and Hong Kong&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/09/asia-markets-oil-prices-coronavirus-currencies-in-focus.html">fell sharply</a>&nbsp;while U.S. stocks are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/08/dow-futures-drop-700-points-as-all-out-oil-price-war-adds-to-coronavirus-stress.html">set for a steep drop</a>&nbsp;at start of trading on Monday.&nbsp;



The other big digital coins&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/?symbol=ETH=">ethereum</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/?symbol=XRP.BS=">XRP</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/?symbol=BCH.CB=">bitcoin cash</a>, posted double-digit percentage point losses.&nbsp;



Despite the losses posted Monday, bitcoin is up around 9% year-to-date.&nbsp;



Huge moves in cryptocurrency prices are not unusual and these digital coins are known for their volatility. Market players however said this could be an opportunity to buy some bitcoin.



“For those who have long term investment horizons, bitcoin is absolutely a buy during these dips,” Jehan Chu, co-founder of Kenetic Capital, an investor in blockchain start-ups told&nbsp;CNBC. “We can expect more of this volatility sparked by macro health and financial shocks, but ultimately long term investments in the digital future and it’s key asset Bitcoin will be a winning strategy”&nbsp;

Over $26 billion wiped off cryptocurrency market in 24 hours after massive oil price plunge

<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/vicky-mckeever/">Vicky McKeever</a> <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://twitter.com/@vmckeevercnbc" target="_blank">@VMCKEEVERCNBC</a> Blockchain has topped the list of skills bosses are looking for in employees around the world this year, according to professional social media platform LinkedIn.



The record-keeping technology first emerged in 2009 with the birth of cryptocurrency but has since moved on from supporting the use of the likes of Bitcoin.



The ability to store, validate, authorize, and move data across the internet with blockchain means it is now being used to securely store and send any digital asset. The technology also stores a permanent and non-editable record of data entry.



Blockchain was the top priority for employers hiring in the U.S., U.K., France, Germany and Australia, LinkedIn found. Yet it was both first time blockchain made it onto LinkedIn’s rankings of in-demand skills and came in first place.



Namrata Murlidhar, marketing director at LinkedIn, said blockchain had emerged from the “once shadowy world” of cryptocurrency to become a “transformative business solution.”



Industries outside the financial services sector were increasingly seeking talent with experience in blockchain, she added, including retail, shipping, healthcare, farming and gaming.



LinkedIn measured demand by looking at the profiles of its users, to determine the frequency that people with different skillsets were getting hired.



Cloud computing came in second place, which is the technology allowing data to be stored and managed on the internet. People working in this area would be developing the architecture, design and delivery of cloud systems.



In third place was analytical reasoning &#8211; the ability to make sense of data and uncover insights that can help business decisions.



Artificial intelligence (AI), which is the technology developing machine-learning, was the fourth most in-demand area of “hard” skills for employers.



Rounding out the top five was UX design, the focus on users’ experience of products, particularly technology.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The top 10 most in-demand hard skills globally</h2>



<ol class="wp-block-list"><li>Blockchain</li><li>Cloud computing</li><li>Analytical reasoning</li><li>Artificial intelligence</li><li>UX design</li><li>Business analysis</li><li>Affiliate marketing</li><li>Sales</li><li>Scientific computing</li><li>Video production</li></ol>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Soft skills</h2>



LinkedIn also ranked “soft” skills – the interpersonal qualities employers want most in their staff. The list looked very similar to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/04/the-30-most-in-demand-skills-in-2019-according-to-linkedin-.html">2019 rankings</a>, with creativity holding onto the top spot.



However, emotional intelligence also made an appearance in this year’s top five. This is the ability to perceive, evaluate and respond to both your own emotions and those of others.



LinkedIn said this emphasized the “importance of how we respond to and interact with colleagues.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The top 5 most in-demand soft skills globally</h2>



<ol class="wp-block-list"><li>Creativity</li><li>Persuasion</li><li>Collaboration</li><li>Adaptability</li><li>Emotional intelligence</li></ol>



This article first appeared on CNBC <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/17/blockchain-is-the-most-in-demand-job-skill-in-2020-says-linkedin.html">https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/17/blockchain-is-the-most-in-demand-job-skill-in-2020-says-linkedin.html</a> and is republished with its permission

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