U.S. stocks opened sharply lower Thursday as global investors fret over the coronavirus outbreak and its economic fallout.
Trading was briefly halted after the Dow Jones Industrial Average was more than 7-percent lower at the open, while the S&P 500 Index and the Nasdaq Composite Index were down more than 6-percent.
Japan's Nikkei Index earlier Wednesday closed down 4.4%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index finished down was down 3.7% and China's Shanghai Composite Index lost 1.5%. Australian markets dove more than 7% Thursday.
European markets were hit hard in their early trading with those in Britain, France and Germany down 6%.
Less demand for travel because of the virus is also helping drive down world oil prices. Airline stocks and cruise ship lines have also been taking a beating.