Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange February 20, 2020. — Reuters pic
Cases of the disease have turned up in 26 countries and territories outside mainland China, killing 11 people, according to a Reuters tally. According to data, mainland China had 892 new confirmed cases and 118 deaths, with most of those in Hubei’s provincial capital Wuhan, which remains under virtual lockdown.
Auto stocks led losses in Europe, down 1.9 per cent in their worst session in four weeks. The sector is the worst performing among major regional sectors, off more than 8 per cent so far this year. US chipmakers fell sharply. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index slid 2.99 per cent, on track for its worst one-day drop since Jan 31, when fears about the health crisis pummelled markets.