World braces for economic impact of Wuhan coronavirus outbreak

Sting already felt in Japan amid flurry of tour cancellations

Workers from local disease control and prevention department in protective suits disinfect a residential area following the outbreak of a new coronavirus, in Ruichang, Jiangxi Province. © Reuters

SHUNSUKE TABETA and YUSHO CHO, Nikkei staff writers

January 27, 2020 06:15 JST

Updated on January 27, 2020 12:33 JST

BEIJING/SHANGHAI -- Global stock markets opened weaker on Monday as investors grew increasingly worried about the economic and financial impact of the coronavirus outbreak that began in the China and has started to spread worldwide.

In Asia, Japan's benchmark Nikkei opened down 1.8%, while the MSCI Asia index of regional stocks slipped in trade thinned by China's Lunar New Year holidays. Financial markets in China, Hong Kong and Australia are closed on Monday. Safehaven assets such as the yen and U.S. treasuries firmed, while gold also rose.