Down nearly 10% today - to 5,339

Biggest one day fall for 33 years


Worst since Black Monday, 1987

Virus - killing shares too...

Further proof needed - not that it is - that media can inflate something out of all proportion and people will always admire The Emperor's New Suit.

Analysts are saying that the principal reasons for the massive drop is the virtually simultaneous announcements of a ban on flights - from most of Europe to the US - and the World Health Organisation's decree that the Coronavirus is now, officially, a pandemic.

Gradually countries are slowly shutting down - cancelling events, large gatherings - even schooling in Ireland. And it will be interesting - over the next few hours - to see how Boris, and his Cobra team, react to the firm decisions and seemingly drastic actions - of neighbouring nations.

Put simply - and quite apart from the nation's health - the ongoing financial consequences of Coranavirus are unsustainable.

Taking a banking share at random - Lloyds Bank. A month ago, its share was trading at 58.

Now, its dropped to 37 - a 36+% reduction, like the value of the long established institution itself.

Income, investments and pensions are being seriously compromised.

My friend is worried; he has not done any job in well over a decade, he lives by investing in the stock market. He rents a nice property from the council.

If it crashes then I wonder if bitcoin is the answer to his prayers )