Asian markets fall on coronavirus worries

China has imposed draconian travel restrictions in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus including temperature checks [Thomas Peter/Reuters]

Stockmarkets in Asia continued to fall on Tuesday, dragged down by worries about an outbreak of a new virus in China that could curb economic growth.

Chinese markets were closed for the Lunar New Year holidays. as stocks in Japan, Australia and South Korea dropped.

“While the step-up in remedial and preventive measures to curb and contain, as well as transparency, have vastly improved from SARS, fears of a global contagion are not put to bed,” said Vishnu Varathan at Mizuho Bank in Singapore.

SARS began in China in 2002, before spreading around the world over the following year, leaving some 800 people dead.

Source: Al-Jazeera