The FTSE 100 has lost a quarter of its value so far this year, but it is not as bad as the last quarter of 1987, when the crash wiped 27.9 per cent off share pricesThe FTSE 100 looks set to avoid suffering its worst ever quarter after European stock markets built on Monday’s gains. Sentiment in the City was boosted by signs of stabilisation in Italy, the country worst hit by the coronavirus outbreak, as well as better than expected economic data out of China. The FTSE 100 added 98.37 points, or 1.8 per cent, in morning trading to reach 5,662.11. It had looked as though the index might record its biggest ever quarterly fall, but its hot start to the week means that it is now down “only” 24.9 per cent since the beginning of the year, compared with the 27.9 per cent plunge seen at the end of 1987, the FTSE 100’s worst ever quarter. Leading the

Source: The Times March 31, 2020 11:03 UTC