Europe: Ukraine conflict drives stocks to 1-year lows, automakers plunge

[BENGALURU] European stocks sank to near one-year lows on Friday (Mar 4), as auto and bank stocks took a battering on reports of a nuclear power plant on fire amid fierce fighting between Ukraine and Russian troops.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 index fell 3.6 per cent. It lost 7 per cent this week - its worst such fall since the pandemic-fuelled selloff in March 2020.

It has lost more than 6 per cent since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine last week with Europe's dependence on Russia for energy as well as its proximity to the conflict hitting it more than other parts of the globe. Asia has lost more than 4 per cent since then, while Wall Street indexes have made up losses with the S&P 500 up close to 2 per cent.

There was global alarm when Russian forces seized the largest nuclear power plant in Europe after a building at the complex in Ukraine was set ablaze.

"The possibility that there could be a nuclear disaster, was almost incomprehensible, and this sort of brings it home," said Danni Hewson, financial analyst at AJ Bell.

"The fallout is going to be with companies and investors for years to come." Safe-haven gold and bond prices jumped as investor nerves ran high, with a measure of volatility in euro zone stocks hitting 45 points for the first time since June 2020.

Euro zone banks tumbled 7.9 per cent as government bond yields fell, with soaring commodity prices, triggered by Western sanctions against Russia - a top commodity exporter, raising concerns about runaway inflation and slowing economic growth.

The auto-heavy German DAX closed down 4.4 per cent to over 1-year lows as carmakers tumbled 5.6 per cent, to be among the worst performers this week among European sectors.

"No one buys a new car when commodity prices are going through the roof," said Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets.

"Their sales and margins are going to be significantly lower. Consumer disposable income is going to take a significant hit because of higher food and gas prices."

Among other regional indexes, France's CAC 40 dropped 5.0 per cent, Italy's FTSE MIB sank 6.2 per cent and UK's FTSE 100 slid 3.5 per cent.

Dutch bank ING dropped 9.7 per cent after it said that about 700 million euros (S$1.04 billion) in outstanding loans were affected by "new sanctions on (Russian) specific entities and individuals".

Michelin dropped 7.2 per cent after the French tyre maker said it would temporarily halt production at some of its plants in Europe due to logistical issues. REUTERS