Another £143 billion wiped off FTSE as index slumps after coronavirus outbreak declared a pandemic

he London Stock Exchange’s leading index of companies has plunged by 9.7%, wiping almost £143 billion off the value of its constituents.

Early in the day investors reacted to the World Health Organisation’s upgrade of the Covid-19 outbreak to a global pandemic.

However the index fell further still in the afternoon, hitting an eight-year low after markets opened down in the US and the European Central Bank unveiled a coronavirus stimulus package, but kept interest rates steady.

Within moments of the FTSE 100 opening, it sank more than 300 points, to levels not seen for eight years. More than £520 billion has been wiped since February 21 – a fall of 28%.

TIt means the index is technically in a “bear market” where the value of shares has fallen by more than 20%.

By 2pm, all 350 companies listed on the wider FTSE 350 were in negative territory, with shares in Cineworld slumping 17%, Travelex owner Finablr down 65%, train operator Go-Ahead down 36% and a whole host of oil, travel and retail businesses suffering.

The best-performing company on the FTSE 100 was Ocado, down only 2.7%.

The falls follow similar moves around the world, with the Dow Jones in New York sinking into “bear” territory as investors reacted nervously to President Donald Trump’s announcement that travel from mainland Europe had been banned.

Jasper Lawler, head of research at LCG, said: “The travel ban is a decisive step to prevent the spread in the US but will cripple trade between the two continents.

“Goods will still flow but presumably at reduced pace and trade in services will almost grind to a halt.”

But others were less impressed, pointing out how the mixed messages will continue to send concern.