European stocks were on track to their worst single-day performance of the year, getting hammered after the discovery of a new more virulent strain of coronavirus.
The Stoxx Europe 600
SXXP,
dropped 2.3% to 470.52, after the discovery of what for now is being called the B.1.1.529 variant, that’s believed to be driving a spike of cases in South Africa. The World Health Organization is holding an emergency meeting and may call the new variant ‘Nu.’
The French CAC 40
PX1,
dropped over 3%, as the German DAX
DAX,
and FTSE 100
UKX,
also slumped. U.S. stock futures
YM00,
ES00,
also were rocked.
“We think it’s too soon to quantify the likely impact of this new variant but markets have had a very strong run over the last 12 months, and so it is no surprise to see a reaction like this,” said Dan Boardman-Weston, chief investment officer at BRI Wealth Management.
Investors flocked to safer assets such as the German bunds, U.S. Treasurys, and gold, with the 10-year bund
TMBMKDE-10Y,
falling 7 basis points to -0.32%.
Each of the major sector indexes were dropping, led by travel and leisure and banks. Cruise operator Carnival
CCL,
lost 14%, and British Airways owner International Airlines Group
IAG,
stumbled 13%. The European Union was moving to halt air traffic from South Africa, a step the U.K. has already taken.
Italian diagnostics kit maker DiaSorin
DIA,
and French lab instrument maker Sartorius Stedim Biotech
DIM,
were among the few advancers.
This post was originally published on Market Watch
