Europe's two biggest economies, Germany and France, have been forced along with other countries to impose new restrictions to battle the disease, as they also struggle to get vaccination programmes rolling properly. Outside the eurozone, London's FTSE 100 edged down by 0.2%, with losses less pronounced given Britain's rapid vaccination drive. Stock markets fell further Wednesday, as investors sold risky shares owing to concerns that Europe's worsening coronavirus crisis could derail economic recovery, dealers said. Frankfurt stocks lost 0.6% and Paris slipped by 0.2% in afternoon trading. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index has now fallen into a correction having lost more than 10% from its recent high.

Source: News 24 March 24, 2021 14:25 UTC