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European markets opened sharply higher Tuesday as investors hope that the region could be seeking a plateau in the coronavirus outbreak.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 jumped 2.6% in early trade, with travel and leisure stocks surging 6.3% to lead gains as all sectors and major bourses entered positive territory.
Markets in Europe will also be reacting to the news last night that U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson had been moved to intensive care as his coronavirus symptoms worsened, according to a statement from the government.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will temporarily take over the prime minister’s duties while Johnson is hospitalized.
Despite the high-profile illness of Boris Johnson, there has been hope in Europe in the last few days that the number of new infections, and death tolls, is starting to decline.
In Asia, China’s National Health Commission (NHC) reported 32 new cases, and no deaths as of April 6 — the first time the country posted no deaths since January when it started publishing daily updates. That brings the country’s total to 81,740 confirmed cases and 3,331 deaths, according to the NHC.
Stocks in Asia rose Tuesday on rising hopes the spread of the global coronavirus pandemic may be slowing.
Mainland Chinese stocks, which returned to trade following a Monday holiday, led gains among the region’s major markets. The Shenzhen composite gained 2.689%, while the Shenzhen component added 2.71%. The Shanghai composite was also up 1.74%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index edged 0.28% higher.
Data includes France’s trade balance for March, Italy retail sales for February and U.L. labor productivity. There are no major earnings.
— CNBC’s Eustance Huang and Huileng Tan contributed reporting to this story.