World equities rocked by new oil slide

Europe's main stock markets tumbled Tuesday, after another sell-off across most of Asia that was sparked by a fresh drop in oil prices, dealers said.

Frankfurt's benchmark DAX 30 index slumped 2.5 percent percent compared with Monday's finish, as dire German factory orders sparked fresh questions about the health of the eurozone's biggest economy.

Elsewhere, France's CAC 40 index shed 2.2 percent, Britain's FTSE 100 dropped 1.3 percent in value and the FTSE-Mib in Milan fell 3.0 percent.

World oil prices languished, striking one-month lows on persistent worries over the global supply glut, weighing on energy shares.

Sentiment failed to win a boost from news that eurozone private sector business activity nudged higher in March after a sharp fall in February, according to a survey from data firm Markit.

- Oil, economy woes -

"The FTSE 100 was down in early trading following downbeat overnight sessions on Wall Street and in Asia, with volatile crude oil prices and global economic concerns continuing to have an impact on investor sentiment," said Russ Mould, investment director at stockbroker AJ Bell.

The mood darkened as gloomy data showed that German industrial orders -- a key measure of demand for goods in Europe's top economy -- declined in February.

Provisional official data showed a decrease in orders of 1.2 percent month-on-month in February, weighed down by falling foreign demand. That followed an increase of 0.5 percent in January.

Analysts polled by financial services firm FactSet had pencilled in a modest increase of 0.3 percent for February.

"A poor February for German factory orders ... adds to eurozone woes," said analyst Mike van Dulken at traders Accendo Markets.

In Asia and Europe, energy companies nursed heavy losses as oil prices fell further.

"WTI crude is eyeing a move back below $35 per barrel," noted analyst Tony Cross at traders Trustnet Direct.

"As a result it's the natural resources stocks that are scattered across the foot of the index, with Royal Dutch Shell and BP also being dragged very much into the fray."

BP slid 2.2 percent to 337.00 pence and Shell's 'A' shares fell 2.4 percent to 1,636.5 pence.
In Paris, French peer Total saw its stock decline 1.9 percent to 38.43 euros.

- US tightens M&A rules -

US stocks opened lower Tuesday, with the Dow dropping 0.6 percent in initial trading, as shares in drugmaker Allergan plummeted on new US rules threatening its takeover by Pfizer.

"Allergan and Dow member Pfizer are garnering attention as the US Treasury Department on Monday introduced new rules to possibly threaten their planned $160 billion merger," said market analysts at Charles Schwab.

The US Treasury's new rules aim at stemming the tide of mergers between US and foreign businesses designed to sharply lower the US company's tax bill.

Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said the toughened regulations target companies moving their headquarters, but not their US operations, to low-tax domiciles abroad via so-called inversion deals.

Allergan and Pfizer have said they would review the impact of the US announcement.
Shares in Dublin-based Allergan plummeted 14.1 percent, although Pfizer gained a modest 0.8 percent after falling in overnight trading.

On the upside in Asia on Tuesday, Shanghai stocks jumped on easing Chinese economic worries after Friday's better-than-forecast manufacturing data.

Tokyo stocks tumbled 2.4 percent as the yen moved towards an 18-month high against the US dollar.

- Key figures around 1330 GMT -

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 1.3 percent at 6,085.16 points

Frankfurt - DAX 30: DOWN 2.5 percent at 9,578.89

Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 2.2 percent at 4,250.98

EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 2.4 percent at 2,892.60

New York - Dow: DOWN 0.6 percent at 17,634.76

New York - S&P 500: DOWN 0.7 percent at 2,050.76

New York - Nasdaq: DOWN 0.8 percent at 4,854.47

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 2.4 percent at 15,732.82 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: UP 1.5 percent at 3,053.07 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 1.6 percent at 20,177.00 (close)

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1370 from $1.1394 on Monday

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 110.46 yen from 111.28 yen

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