European markets start lower
1 min read
A broker watches her screens under the curve of the German stock index DAX in Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday, March 17, 2020, the day after German authorities spoke out more restrictions to avoid the spread out of the coronavirus. Only for most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
The pan-European Stoxx 600 fell 1% at the start of trading, with travel and leisure stocks shedding 2.3% to lead losses as all sectors and major bourses slid into the red.
Coronavirus developments continue to weigh on investor sentiment as cases surge in Europe. The number of daily reported coronavirus cases in the U.K. has jumped by a quarter in the past day, according to the BBC. The U.K. reported 6,178 cases, up by 1,252 since Tuesday, as the country grapples with a surge this month. Meanwhile, two German government ministers, Heiko Maas and Peter Altmaier, are now in quarantine after close contacts received positive coronavirus tests.
Elsewhere, Asia-Pacific markets also saw losses, following a drop on Wall Street Wednesday due to uncertainty over the pandemic.
