LONDON — European stocks sold off sharply on Thursday after Russia began an attack on Ukraine, tipping a longstanding diplomatic crisis into a military conflict.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 dropped 2.7% in early trade, with banks tumbling 4.3% to lead losses as all sector sand major bourses slid into negative territory.
Global markets were rocked on Thursday on the news that Russia has launched an attack on Ukraine, and one that appears to be more widespread that expected.
Multiple explosions across Ukraine were reported by journalists and government officials in at least four cities early Thursday morning local time, undermining Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim that Russia was launching a military operation that would be limited to the far east of the country.
Starting about two hours before dawn on Thursday, explosions were felt in and around the cities of Kyiv, Odessa, Kharkiv and Mariupol. The explosions are ongoing, according to reports. Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s minister of foreign affairs, said in a statement that a “full-scale invasion” of his country was underway.
U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the attack. “The world will hold Russia accountable,” he said in a statement before he held a late-night call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The European Union is set to hold an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss its response to the latest development.
Earnings came from AB InBev, Axa, Bouygues, Safran, Saint-Gobain, Mercedes-Benz, Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica, Anglo American, BAE systems, WPP, Rolls-Royce and Lloyds Banking Group.
There were few individual share price gains worth noting in Europe on Thursday morning, while stocks perceived by the market to have exposure to Russia tumbled, with Polymetal International, Uniper and Rolls-Royce shedding more than 10%.
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– CNBC’s Christine Wilkie contributed to this market report.
