Shares have fallen globally as investors fear the coronavirus outbreak will destroy economic growth with government action insufficient to stop the decline, BBC reported.

Britain's main index fell 10% - this is the most rapid collapse since 1987. In the US, the Dow and S&P 500 were also hit by their steepest daily falls since 1987.

The US Federal Reserve and European Central Bank lowered interest rates, but this did not reassure investors.

After the opening of the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday, a sharp drop even caused a temporary suspension of trading - the second one this week.

When trading resumed after 15 minutes, stocks continued to fall, partly due to the collapse of European markets.

The S&P 500 index fell 9.5%, Nasdaq - 9.4%.

The fall of the leading British FTSE 100 index led to losses of $ 160 billion pounds. In France and Germany, indices fell by over 12%.

"Markets are at a breaking point," said Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com. "No one knows what a total economic shutdown, however temporary, looks like.”

The decision of the US Presidential Administration to close the entrance to the country from Europe led to the collapse and a rapid decline in the shares of travel agencies.

Securities markets collapsed in Asia. Japan's Nikkei 225 index lost 4.4% in a day.

In recent weeks, global markets have lost more than 20% compared to the best of their recent indicators, indicating a possible recession.

The three main central banks of the West have unleashed all their firepower against the slowdown in economic growth caused by coronavirus - but without much success.

Stock markets continue to fall. Thursday was the worst day in the history of the FTSE 100 since Black Monday in October 1987.