Coronavirus fears drive markets down

Financial markets continue to plunge as investors worry about the spread of the coronavirus. UK stocks have now slumped to their lowest level in three and a half-years. As the sell-off intensifies, the FTSE 100 was this Friday morning down nearly 4.5% - or 300 points - at just 6495 points. That's its weakest level since July 2016, shortly after the Brexit referendum. Frankfurt's Dax is down 5% and the Cac in Paris is off 4.4%. The S&P 500, which just last Wednesday reached a record high, slid 4.4% on Thursday, its worst day since August 2011. The index is down 12% since that peak. ...