The UK's 'Freedom day' has coincided with a surge in the Delta Covid variant, roiling stock markets. Photographer: Hollie Adams/BloombergEuropean stock markets suffered their worst battering since 2020 yesterday as rising infections of Covid’s Delta variant sank economic optimism. In Europe, Irish shares were among the worst hit including Ryanair and AIB, each down 6.5pc hitting investors with big paper losses. Across Europe, shares sank more than 2pc with commodity-linked stocks, banks and travel shares relatively worse hit, down more than 3pc. Germany’s Dax index of leading shares dropped 2.6pc, while Italy’s Mib plunged 3.3pc, its steepest one-day drop since October.

Source: Irish Independent July 20, 2021 01:30 UTC