Shanghai plunges on virus fears to lead fresh Asia market retreat

A pedestrian walking past a stock indicator displaying share prices on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo on Monday (Feb 3). Tokyo stocks dropped on Monday as the Chinese market plunged after investors returned from an extended holiday during which the new coronavirus outbreak drove down the global market. - AFP

HONG KONG: Chinese equities plunged almost 8% on Monday (Feb 3) as nervous traders returned from their extended Lunar New Year break, hit by fears that the coronavirus, which has killed more people in China than SARS, could hammer the country's economy.

The steep losses led another sell-off across Asia following a painful week for global markets with the virus death toll topping 360 people and more than 17,000 infected, and governments around the world banning flights to and from China.