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The Europe-wide STOXX 600 index fell 2% by 0808 GMT – hitting its lowest since Jan. 25. All the major sub-sectors were in the red, with travel & leisure, banking and automakers falling the most with losses of over 3%.
The energy sector slipped 0.5%, falling the least as oil prices hit their highest in more than seven years. [O/R]
Global investors dumped riskier assets and moved to safe-haven assets such as gold and government bonds after a warning from the United States that Russia could invade Ukraine at any time and might create a surprise pretext for an attack.
Among stocks, Clariant slumped 16.5% as the Swiss speciality chemicals group delayed the release of its 2021 results due to an investigation into accounting issues.
Commerzbank (DE:CBKG) fell 7.5% after Germany’s finance minister said the government would not keep its stake in the lender in the long run.
