European stocks slid on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump tested positive for COVID-19, hitting equity markets globally.
The pan-European STOXX 600 fell 1.0% by 0704 GMT. The German DAX and France's CAC 40 dropped 1.3%, while UK's FTSE 100 declined 1.0%.
Trump said on Friday that he and his wife Melania had tested positive for COVID-19 and were going into quarantine, with just weeks to go before the Nov. 3 presidential election.
Chemical, mining and oil & gas stocks stocks were the biggest decliners in early trading, down between 1.3% and 1.5%.
Elsewhere, in Japan, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said that news of U.S. President Donald Trump's testing positive for the coronavirus was having a major impact on financial markets.
Nishimura, speaking to reporters, also said he hoped Trump would recover quickly.
News by Reuters, edited by ESM. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
