TOKYO — Global stock markets skidded Wednesday as reports of rising numbers of coronavirus cases deepened the gloom over the likely impact on the world economy. France's CAC 40 fell 4.4% to 4,204, while Germany's DAX shed 3.9% to 9,546. Britain's FTSE 100 dropped 3.8% to 5,457 after major banks announced they were scrapping dividend payments, bringing their share prices sharply lower. U.S. shares were set to drift lower with Dow and S&P 500 futures both dipping 3.4%. In Asia, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 dropped 4.5% to finish at 18,065.41.

Source: International New York Times April 01, 2020 07:15 UTC