European stocks slide again on pandemic fears

The selloff isn't over.

European shares fell again on Thursday (February 27).

Governments around the world ramped up measures to battle the coronavirus as the number of infections outside China for the first time surpassed those within the country.

Multiple blue-chip companies issued profit warnings, with Standard Chartered tumbling 3.4%

The Asia-focused bank said that a key earnings target would now take longer to meet.

Meanwhile the world's largest beer maker, AB InBev dropped 5.6% after forecasting muted growth in 2020 - due in part to the outbreak

The pan-regional STOXX 600 index fell over 2% in early trade - bracing for its worst week in four years.

Travel & leisure stocks slumped 3.3%, for a sixth straight session of losses, as airlines and hotel groups dropped on concerns over demand.

Weak earnings reports also dampened the mood.

Advertising major WPP slid 13.6% after saying it would target flat organic growth and profit margins in 2020.

In Asia stocks in China and Hong Kong rose slightly as the country reported fewer deaths due to the virus.

Beijing also continued to signal more support to underpin the domestic economy,

But that didn't help the global fears over contagion, keeping any gains in check.