By Kim Khan
Investing.com - European stocks plunged to session lows Thursday as trading on Wall Street was halted again shortly after the open, with investors desperate to get rid of shares.
The Euro Stoxx 50 tumbled 10% in afternoon trading. Germany’s DAX sank 9.8%, the U.K.’s FTSE100 fell 9.2% and France’s CAC shed 10.3%
U.S. stock index futures dove during President Donald Trump’s Oval Office speech late Wednesday, with investors clearly deciding a partial travel ban on European citizens was far from the bold action many hoped would be taken by the U.S. to combat Covid-19 and help stabilize financial markets.
Stocks in the U.S. fell 7% at the opening bell, triggering circuit breakers that halt trading for 15 minutes.
European investors also gave thumbs down to the European Central Bank keeping rates unchanged, although it did increase quantitative easing.