BERLIN (Reuters) – German sportswear company Adidas (ADSGn.DE) on Wednesday said it was temporarily shutting a “considerable” number of its stores in China due to the coronavirus outbreak. The company said the fast-spreading virus was having a negative impact on its business but added that it could not yet assess to what extent. Adidas has about 12,000 outlets in China, including franchise stores. Adidas saw sales growth slow to 11% in China in the July-September period from 14% in the second quarter. Several retailers have warned that coronavirus is taking its toll, including Nike Inc (NKE.N) and Hugo Boss (BOSSn.DE), which have both closed some stores in China. Adidas’s German rival Puma (PUMG.DE) said that factories will remain closed until Feb. 10. “We have so far not been informed of any production or shipment delays. A number of stores – both owned and operated and partner stores – remain closed for the time being due to local regulations”, a Puma spokesman said. “It is too early to comment on the effects of these closures”, he added. The group cancelled or postponed all Puma events in China in February including training and marketing meetings and put travel restrictions in place. Its Shanghai office remains closed until February 9. Nick Note: My opinion this is the first of many shutdowns in China and it will have a devastating effect on US corporation and the US supply chain. By extension when this hits if it hits as i believe. it will slam the US stock market like a stalled pickup truck stuck on the tracks at a oncoming freight train crossing.