LONDON – World stock markets fell further Wednesday while the euro slid to a fresh 13-month low as three people died in a blaze at an Athens bank during rioting against austerity measures imposed under an international bailout package for Greece.
The FTSE 100 index of leading British shares was down 39.28 points, or 0.7 percent, at 5,371.83 while Germany’s DAX fell 31.88 points, or 0.5 percent, to 5,974.98. The CAC-40 in France was 18.12 points, or 0.5 percent, lower at 3,671.17.
No relief is expected at the U.S. open later despite better than anticipated jobs data – Dow futures fell 54 points, or 0.5 percent, at 10,838 while the Standard & Poor’s 500 futures fell 7.6 points, or 0.7 percent, to 1,164.80.
Meanwhile, the euro slid 0.6 percent to $1.2895, its lowest level since late April 2009.
The selling pressure accentuated as Greek fire officials confirmed that three people died in a blaze at an Athens bank during a 100,000-strong protest in the city against spending cuts aimed at saving the country from bankrupted.