The FTSE 100 suffered its worst day in more than three months as the odds of a second national lockdown narrowed and coronavirus outbreaks in Europe sent a shudder through world markets.
Britain’s index of leading shares fell by 3.4 per cent, or 202.76 points, to 5,804.29, its sharpest daily decline since June 11 and its lowest close since September 4. The index is down by 22.2 per cent since the start of the coronavirus sell-off on February 20.
Boris Johnson’s chief medical and scientific advisers warned yesterday that the country was facing a “very challenging winter” and that without further restrictions new cases could hit 50,000 a day by mid-October. There were 4,368 new cases reported yesterday, up from 3,899 on Sunday.
Airlines, hotels