. .
European stocks came under pressure on Monday as investors reacted to border closings and new lockdowns as the U. . K. . deals with an infectious new strain of COVID-19. That overshadowed the news of a business cycle agreement in the U.. . S.. . and stock futures fell.
The Stoxx Europe 600 Index
SXXP,
-2. 63%
fell over 3% to 383. 23, after winning 1. 48% last week. The German DAX
DAX,
-2. 99%
fell 3. 7%, the French CAC 40
PX1,
-2. 80%
fell 3. 3% and the FTSE 100 index
UKX,
-2. 27%
fell 2. 7%.
The pound
GBPUSD,
-1. 87%
fell 2. 3% on $ 1. 3219 while the euro fell 1% to $ 1. 2144. The weekend passed with little progress on a post-Brexit trade deal.
The U. . K. . It was announced on Saturday that south east England, including London, will face much tougher restrictions that will close non-essential stores and exclude non-essential travel before Christmas. That’s after news that a more infectious strain of COVID-19 was responsible for 60% of infections in London by December.
Health officials in the U. . K. . and the U. . S.. . I said there was no evidence the new strain was any more lethal. But the strain was responsible for a large increase in cases in the underground. K. . this month.
European countries responded to fears that the load could reach the continent by blocking U.. K. . Flights and train travel. There were concerns about possible food shortages when France imposed a 48-hour ban on air, sea and land travel from the US. K. . including a freight ban.
The U. . K. . The government will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to avoid food shortages before the holidays. And there were concerns that critical medications, including supplies of COVID-19 vaccines, could be held up.
Dow Jones Industrial Average
YM00,
-1. 45%
slipped over 500 points and S&P 500 futures
ES00,
-1. 61%
fell 2% while Nasdaq-100 futures
NQ00,
-1. 05%
dropped 1. 6%. The Dow
DJIA,
-0. 41%
ended Friday’s session 127 points lower amid concerns over the adoption of a stimulus package.
Fear of new lockdowns in the first quarter slightly overshadowed the optimism of news that US lawmakers. S.. . had agreed to a pandemic aid agreement. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said late Sunday that a bipartisan deal had been reached on a coronavirus aid package worth nearly $ 900 billion. Legislators plan to vote and pass the law on Monday.
There has also been renewed optimism with COVID-19 vaccines as the vaccine was delivered by Biotech Moderna
MRNA,
-2. 62%,
the second to be authorized in the U.. S.. . , began to leave distribution centers on Sunday. In the meantime, the European Medicines Agency will decide on Monday whether to give U’s COVID-19 vaccine the green light. S.. . Pharmaceutical company Pfizer
PFE,
-0. 92%
and its German partner BioNTech
BNTX,
-2. 06%.
Read: « Wear masks when you see your family over Christmas, » WHO urges Europeans as regulators speed up the COVID vaccine schedule.
Vaccinations in Europe could start within a week if this approval is given. The European Medicines Agency has come under pressure to shorten its approval process as the number of coronavirus cases has risen and blocking measures in the 27-nation bloc have been tightened. The Pfizer BioNTech vaccine was approved in the United States. K. . and Canada as well as the U. . S.. .
« With the vaccination campaign expected to take some time, investors are concerned about the latest developments that suggest the pandemic may get worse before it gets better, » said Milan Cutkovic, market analyst at Axi, in a message to customers.
Concerns about the new COVID-19 strain also weighed heavily on oil prices, amid fears that a recovery in demand could see another setback. U. . S.. . European benchmark crude oil prices fell more than 3% each. This hit large oil companies with stakes in France’s Total
TOT,
-1. 49%
by 3% and the one for BP
BP,
-5. 45%
BP,
-0. 73%
and Royal Dutch Shell
RDSA,
-4. 94%
RDSA,
-4. 94%
in the U. . K. . Slump of more than 4% each.
Royal Dutch Shell announced Monday that after-tax charges of between $ 3 are expected in the fourth quarter. 5 billion and $ 4. A total of $ 5 billion in depreciation, asset restructuring and onerous contracts.
Airlines were the biggest declines due to disruption from the U. . K. . Travel bans. International Consolidated Airlines shares
IAG,
-8th. 76%,
Deutsche Lufthansa, which operates British Airways and other airlines, fell 10%
LHA,
-4. 23%
Shares closed 6% and cruise line Carnival closed
CCL,
-8th. 13%
collapsed by almost 8%.
Shares in low cost airlines easyJet
EZJ,
-9. 49%
and Ryanair Holdings
RYA,
-5. 02%
fell 9% and 5% respectively.
Stocks in online grocery delivery group Ocado were on the rise
OCDO,
4th. 35%,
by about 3%.
Towards the end of a brutal year, Wall Street is optimistic for 2021 as the first round of COVID-19 vaccinations takes place, although much could go wrong.
Coronavirus, United Kingdom, strain
World News – US – European stocks fall and Dow futures fall 500 points on concerns over new COVID-19 strain in U.. . K. .
. . Related title :
– European stocks fall and Dow futures fall 500 points on concerns about the new COVID-19 strain in the UK
– Experts expect vaccines to protect against UK&’s fast-spreading Covid strain.
– EXPLAINER: Are new coronavirus strains of concern?
– New COVID Strain in UK: What We Know in 500 Words
– Britain is terrifying everyone with its new Covid-19 strain. Here’s & what scientists know.
– <a href = "/? s = Why the mutated coronavirus from UK& # 39; – The rapid spread of a new strain of coronavirus is the & »; the worst news is & « ; the pandemic a government scientist has ever had . . .
– British held & # 39; against their will& # 39; at European airports because of mutated Covid strain, as the EU promises to ban ALL trips from Great Britain
– European experts advise caution about new Covid mutation found in UK
– Mutant Coronavirus Strain: What we do so far know
Ref: https://www.marketwatch.com
