BEIJING (AP) — Global stock markets are down after a rise in virus cases in South Korea and other countries refueled investor anxiety about the disease outbreak.
Benchmarks in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney closed down on Friday.
Markets in Europe, including London and Frankfurt, were trading lower and Wall Street was expected to dip on the open.
Markets had been gaining on hopes the viral outbreak that began in China might be under control.
Stronger-than-expected U.S. economic data and interest rate cuts by Asian central banks have helped to buoy sentiment. But investors were jarred by South Korea's report of 52 new cases of the coronavirus.