The FTSE 100 Futures is trading at 7,372.00  with a loss of -0.54% percent or -40.20 point. The CAC 40 Futures is trading at 6,041.50  with a loss of -0.69% percent or -42.00 point. The DAX Futures is trading at 13,609.50  with a loss of -0.68% percent or -93.10 point. The EURO Stoxx 50 Futures trading at 3,403.00 with a loss of -0.06% percent or -2.00 point.

TODAY’S FACTORS AND EVENTS

Stocks on both sides of the Atlantic slumped in the last half hour of trading in Europe following a report in the Chinese press of 36 coronavirus infections among healthcare workers at a Beijing hospital, which triggered concern of a possible outbreak in the country’s capital.

That followed news of a similar and as of yet unexplained occurrence in South Korea and another report, this time from Al-Jazeera, regarding the possible undercounting of cases in North Korea.

After a lower start, stocks had nearly managed to reclaim all their losses before being blindsided by a wave of selling that reportedly left many observers scratching their heads as they searched for an explanation.

YESTERDAY ACTIVITY

For the day the FTSE 100 closed at 7,436.64  with a loss of –0.27% percent or –20.38  point. France’s CAC  40 closed at 6,062.30  with a loss of –0.80% percent or –48.94  point.Germany’s DAX closed at 13,664.00 with a loss of –0.91% percent or –125.00  point.

WORLD MARKETS

For the day the Dow is trading at 29,219.98 with a loss of –0.44% percent or –128.05   point. The S&P 500 is trading at 3,373.23  with a loss of –0.47% percent or –12.92 point. The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 9,750.96 with a loss of –0.67% percent or –66.21 point.

In other parts of world, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading at 23,386.74 with a loss of –0.39% percent or –92.41 point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading at 27,325.40 with a loss of  –1.03% percent or –283.76   point. China’s Shanghai Composite is trading at 3,039.67 up with  +0.31% percent or  +9.51  point. India’s BSE Sensex is trading at  41,170.12  with a loss of –0.37% percent or –152.88 point at 12:15 PM.