International inventory markets dive as fears of Ukraine battle rattle traders

International inventory markets have fallen sharply as fears of army battle in Ukraine spooked traders, wiping £53bn off the worth of the UK’s blue-chip share index.

European markets tumbled by 3.8% to their lowest ranges since October, their greatest one-day fall in additional than 18 months, after Nato mentioned it was reinforcing its japanese borders with land, sea and air forces as a Russian invasion of Ukraine appeared more and more possible.

Volatility soared, as traders additionally feared the US central financial institution, the Federal Reserve, would elevate rates of interest a number of instances this yr, beginning in March, after US inflation hit a 40-year excessive of seven% in December.

Within the Metropolis of London, the FTSE 100 index fell 2.6% to a one-month low, its greatest fall in two months, as Boris Johnson warned {that a} “lightning battle” in Ukraine was attainable however not inevitable. The blue-chip index misplaced 197 factors, falling to 7,297.

The academic writer Pearson led the FTSE 100 fallers, down 9%, with the Russian steelmaker Evraz dropping 8%. Miners, vitality producers, journey companies and housebuilders additionally slid.

In Frankfurt, the Dax index of main German corporations misplaced 3.8%, whereas France’s Cac shed 4%.

The New York inventory market noticed wild swings. Heavy promoting pushed the S&P 500 index down over 3% at one stage, greater than 10% beneath its file excessive, earlier than a late rally pushed the foremost US indices greater on the finish of the day.

Buyers rushed to safe-haven property such because the US greenback, and likewise the Swiss franc, which hit a six-year excessive towards the euro.

The sell-off in danger property hit cryptocurrencies, with bitcoin falling to a six-month low of about $33,000 (£24,500), lower than half its all-time excessive of $69,000 reached final November.

The Fed, which is able to meet this week, may additionally begin to run down its stability sheet this yr, eradicating a number of the stimulus launched for the reason that Covid pandemic started.

“Merchants proceed to be in promoting mode as fears mount surrounding the Russia-Ukraine state of affairs,” mentioned David Madden, a market analyst at Equiti Capital. “Additionally enjoying into the combination are the issues the Federal Reserve will concern a hawkish replace on Wednesday.”

The prospect of tighter financial coverage has pushed know-how shares decrease, with the Nasdaq Composite index dropping into correction territory earlier this month..

“The double-whammy of danger occasions is proving an excessive amount of for Wall Avenue to deal with, with the Nasdaq as soon as once more main the cost decrease because the tech rout deepens,” mentioned Fiona Cincotta, a senior monetary markets analyst at Metropolis Index.

“In the meantime, embassy workers are being pulled out of Kyiv amid rising fears that Russia may ship troops into Ukraine imminently. Talks final week between the US and Russia didn’t pave the best way to an answer. Fears of battle are driving the risk-off commerce with bonds rising.”

There was heavy promoting on Moscow’s inventory market, with the Moex index of Russian corporations tumbling virtually 6% to its lowest degree since December 2020, taking its losses in 2022 to virtually 15%.

The rouble hit a one-year low, dropping 2.5% to greater than 79 roubles to the US greenback. The Financial institution of Russia mentioned it was halting purchases of international foreign money in an try to ease stress on the rouble, which has slumped amid tensions over Ukraine.

The UK’s FTSE 250 index of medium-sized corporations tumbled by 3.6%, hitting its lowest degree since March 2021. The cybersecurity agency Darktrace was down 14.6%, the newspaper writer Attain fell 11%, whereas the cinema chain Cineworld and the luxurious carmaker Aston Martin dropped 8.7%.

Fuel costs soared, with the wholesale day-ahead worth of UK fuel leaping 17%, on issues that Russian provides of vitality to Europe may very well be disrupted.

There have been additionally indicators that the Omicron variant had slowed the worldwide restoration. Personal sector progress within the UK and eurozone hit its lowest in 11 months, whereas US enterprise exercise grew at its slowest tempo in 18 months in January, in response to the newest surveys of buying managers.