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Coronavirus: Shares face worst week since global financial crisis Coronavirus: Shares face worst week since global financial crisis
(about 1 hour later)
Stock markets across the globe are suffering their worst week since the global financial crisis of 2008 as fears over the impact of the coronavirus continue to grip investors.Stock markets across the globe are suffering their worst week since the global financial crisis of 2008 as fears over the impact of the coronavirus continue to grip investors.
Markets in Europe fell sharply on Friday morning, with London's FTSE 100 index sinking more than 3%.Markets in Europe fell sharply on Friday morning, with London's FTSE 100 index sinking more than 3%.
Asian markets saw more big falls, while in the US, the Dow Jones recorded its biggest daily points drop on Thursday.Asian markets saw more big falls, while in the US, the Dow Jones recorded its biggest daily points drop on Thursday.
Investors are worried the coronavirus impact could spark a global recession.Investors are worried the coronavirus impact could spark a global recession.
The news of more coronavirus cases, notably in Italy, has raised concerns of a much larger economic impact than previously expected. The news of more coronavirus cases, notably in Italy, has raised concerns of a much larger economic effect than previously expected.
"Markets were too optimistic and now may be too pessimistic," said Iris Pang, Greater China economist at ING. In an interview with Sky News, Bank of England governor Mark Carney warned that the coronavirus outbreak could lead to a downgrade of the UK's economic growth prospects.
Mayank Mishra, a strategist at Standard Chartered Bank, added: "Previously the market had taken some comfort in the falling infection rates in China as a result of containment measures put in place earlier. Dozens of firms have warned of disruptions to their supply chains and a decline in consumer demand.
US tech giants Apple and Microsoft have both said their business will be affected, while US investment bank Goldman Sachs warned on Thursday that it now thinks the coronavirus will wipe out any growth in US company profits this year.
Shares in airlines have been especially hard-hit as travel bans are imposed and companies limit staff travel. On Friday, airline group IAG - which owns British Airways and Iberia - said its earnings had been affected by "weaker demand" as a result of the outbreak.
Mayank Mishra, a strategist at Standard Chartered Bank, said: "Previously the market had taken some comfort in the falling infection rates in China as a result of containment measures put in place earlier.
"But the spread of the coronavirus infection outside China, with clusters emerging in South Korea, Italy and Japan, has increased concerns significantly.""But the spread of the coronavirus infection outside China, with clusters emerging in South Korea, Italy and Japan, has increased concerns significantly."
Several key global market indexes - including the FTSE 100 and the Dow Jones - have fallen 10% from recent highs. A drop of that magnitude is generally referred to as a correction.
"We have had the first warning signs and what markets are trying to digest is how long this is going to go on and what the economic damage will be," Sonja Laud, chief investment officer at Legal & General Investment Management, told the BBC.
All the main European share indexes saw big falls as trading got under way on Friday, with Germany's Dax index opening down 3.6% and France's Cac 40 index falling 3.1%.All the main European share indexes saw big falls as trading got under way on Friday, with Germany's Dax index opening down 3.6% and France's Cac 40 index falling 3.1%.
Earlier in Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 index fell 3.7%, meaning it is down more than 9% for this week. Earlier in Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 index fell 3.7%, meaning it is down more than 9% for this week. China's Shanghai Composite index also fell 3.7% on Friday.
Australia's main share index, the ASX200, fell by more than 3.3% on Friday, also suffering its biggest fall since the financial crisis of 2008. The oil price has also fallen sharply on fears that the virus outbreak will lead a big drop in demand, as factories reduce or halt production during the outbreak.
Indian stock markets also fell heavily on Friday, with the Nifty 50 and Sensex indices both down by around 3%. The price of Brent crude fell nearly 3% to $50.31 a barrel on Friday morning, its lowest level for more than a year.
Asian stock markets reacted badly when the outbreak emerged in China, but had stabilised - until now. China's Shanghai Composite index fell 3.7% on Friday.