Stock Markets Dip On Virus Fears

Stock markets mostly fell on Tuesday as lingering fears of resurging numbers of coronavirus cases prompted profit-taking, dealers said

London, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Jun, 2020 ):Stock markets mostly fell on Tuesday as lingering fears of resurging numbers of coronavirus cases prompted profit-taking, dealers said.

On Wall Street, the Dow gave up some of Monday's sharp gains at the opening bell, while eurozone stock markets were mostly also mildly in the red.

"The stock market recovery continues to send flagging signals on the back of numerous reopening setbacks," said Craig Erlam, a senior market analyst at OANDA.

"With various states in the US halting lockdown easing or even reversing them in some cases, investors may be becoming a little concerned about what they're seeing." London underperformed its peers after a worse-than-expected UK growth contraction, gloomy corporate news from energy major Royal Dutch Shell and renewed lockdown measures in the central English city of Leicester.

"The FTSE 100 (has been) particularly hard-hit thanks to a warning from Shell which has driven that heavily-weighted stock and its peer BP firmly into the red," said IG analyst Chris Beauchamp.

Earlier, Asian stock markets had mostly gained, backed by strong Chinese and US economic data.

China said its purchasing managers index (PMI) of factory activity improved on May, beating forecasts.

The non-manufacturing reading was also better than hoped.

The data provided hope of an economic rebound, helped by the reopening of businesses around the world.

In Hong Kong, traders were keeping a nervous eye on Wednesday's anniversary of the handover to China, fearing fresh clashes.

Oil prices dipped on virus demand concerns and the prospect of a return to Libyan production, dealers said.

- Key figures around 1335 GMT - London - FTSE 100: DOWN 1.2 percent at 6,153.88 points Frankfurt - DAX 30: FLAT at 12,237.24 Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.7 percent at 4,910.45 EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.5 percent at 3,217.20 New York - Dow: DOWN 0.2 percent at 25,535.62 Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.3 percent at 22,288.14 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 0.5 percent at 24,427.19 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.8 percent at 2,984.67 (close) West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.9 percent at $38.95 per barrel Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 1.9 percent at $41.06 Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1220 from $1.1242 at 2100 GMT Dollar/yen: UP at 107.67 yen from 107.58 yenPound/dollar: UP at $1.2302 from $1.2298Euro/pound: DOWN at 91.19 pence from 91.41