By Administrator_India

Capital Sands

European stock markets weakened Wednesday, with investors fretting about the increasing number of coronavirus cases worldwide amid fears this will lead to the reintroduction of generalized lockdown measures.

At 3:30 AM ET (0730 GMT), the DAX in Germany traded 0.8% lower, France’s CAC 40 fell 0.6%, the U.K.’s FTSE index was down 0.7%.

Stocks in Europe have rallied hard since hitting a low in March, with gains driven by fiscal and central bank stimulus around the globe and a gradual easing of restrictions.  The U.K. announced a major relaxation of restrictions on its crucial service sector on Tuesday.

However, fears are mounting that the removal of these restrictions may have come too quickly and a second wave of the Covid-19 virus is on its way.

German Health Minister Jens Spahn on Wednesday stressed that the coronavirus remains a risk after the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia on Tuesday put two municipalities back into lockdown following an outbreak at a meatpacking plant.

Still, there remains some optimism about the economic recovery, particularly after Tuesday’s upbeat business surveys, with France a stand-out as lockdown loosening there led to a modest return to growth.

The French index for business confidence surged 18 points to 78, earlier Wednesday, the sharpest increase on record, statistics agency Insee said.

In corporate news, Dufry stock climbed 1.5% after the Swiss-based travel retailer said it would slash staffing costs to reflect previously forecast hefty potential sales declines on the back of the coronavirus pandemic.

Atos stock climbed 0.8% after the French information-technology company confirmed its goals for 2020, while maintaining its dividend.

Nokia  stock climbed 0.5% after the Finnish telecom equipment maker announced its new chief executive Pekka Lundmark will join the company on August 1, a month earlier than planned.

Oil edged higher Wednesday, consolidating after losses caused by a second consecutive week of increases in U.S. crude supplies.