Early Monday, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 dropped 3.7% to 18,680.72 and the Kospi in South Korea lost 2.3% to 1,678.51. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 2.3% to 4,955.70 as the government prepared to announce fresh economic support measures for businesses. At the start of this year, analysts expected S&P 500 companies’ earnings would grow 4.4% in the January-March quarter. Infographic PA GraphicsThe S&P 500 lost 3.4% on Friday to 2,541.47. The energy sector of the S&P 500 has lost half its value this year.

Source: Irish Independent March 30, 2020 04:30 UTC