Global stock markets are hurtling toward their worst week since the financial crisis

Global stock markets are hurtling toward their worst week since the financial crisis

Coronavirus fears are making global stock markets ill. The S&P 500 index of US stocks and the MSCI World Index, a basket of equities from developed markets, are having their worst week since the financial crisis. As of midday trading today, the S&P was down 9.6% for the week and the MSCI World Index had sunk 13.2%—for both indices, their steepest weekly drop since the week ended Oct. 10, 2008.