A trader has his head in his hand on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on March 12.
In late morning deals, London stocks dived by 3% after Health Minister Matt Hancock warned Britain’s coronavirus crisis was at a “tipping point”, fueling expectations of more restrictions aimed at curbing Covid-19. “The move followed mixed trading in Asia and matched similar-sized drops on other European exchanges as investors weigh concerns around a new wave of coronavirus infections and fears that central banks are not immediately coming to the rescue with a fresh round of stimulus.”
Most Asian bourses also fell following a disappointing performance Friday on Wall Street, on growing alarm over an uptick in coronavirus infections in Europe and the US — as well as the lack of movement in Washington on a new stimulus.