European Stocks Plummet amid Concerns over New Covid Strain

On Friday, European stocks sharply plunged amid rising concerns about the new Covid-19 variant that reportedly holds multiple mutations. 

The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 2.79% or 13.43 points to $468.29 per share. 

Similarly, the EURO STOXX 50 index tumbled 3.40% or 145.99 points to $4,147.25 per share. 

Subsequently, leisure travel company Carnival declined 13.91% or 261.30 points to $1616.84 per share. 

Then, aerospace firms toned down to the bottom of the European stocks. 

For instance, Airbus Group slipped 9.94% or 12.57 points to $113.91 per share. 

Correspondingly, Safran SA weakened 9.85% or 12.64 points to $114.31 per share. 

In the United Kingdom, the FTSE All-Share index slumped 2.81% or 117.05 points to $4,050.23 per share. 

Likewise, the benchmark FTSE 100 lost 3.17% or 231.46 points to $7,078.44 per share. 

At the same time, airline business EasyJet PLC fluctuated 11.48% or 86.34 points to $499.60 per share.

Consequently, German stocks also posted losses in the European stocks. 

The MDAX performance index pared 1.98% or 693.59 points to $34,318.42 per share. 

Then, the DAX 40 index curtailed 2.80% or 444.94 points to $15,473.04 per share. 

Eventually, flag carrier Lufthansa slumped 10.41% or 0.73 points to $6.26 per share.

In addition, transport firm Fraport slashed 8.00% or 5.46 points to $63.00 per share. 

In Paris, the benchmark CAC lowered 3.34% or 240.60 points to $6,835.27 per share. 

Accordingly, investors monitored the health crisis in the eurozone this week amid the increasing number of infections. 

Furthermore, the new COVID strain spilled fears in the European stocks as the UK suspended flights in Southern Africa.

Asia-Pacific Market Down as European Stocks Fell

Moreover, shares in the Asia-Pacific market abated, aligning with the decline of European stocks.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index dropped 2.53% or 747.66 points to $28,751.62 per share. 

It is the same with the broader TOPIX index as it edged down 2.01% or 40.71 points to $1,984.98 per share. 

In China, the benchmark Shanghai Composite decreased 0.56% or 20.09 points to $3,564.09 per share. 

Also, the Shenzhen Component index skidded 0.34% or 50.78 points to $14,777.17 per share. 

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index dwindled 2.67% or 659.64 points to $24,080.52 per share. 

Elsewhere, the S&P/ASX 200 index narrowed 1.73% or 128.00 points to $7,279.30 per share. 

Meanwhile, Wall Street closed on Thursday in line with Thanksgiving and will have a shortened session today.