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| - Europe's main stock markets rebounded around 1.5 percent Friday after Asian indices halted their slide, with investor nerves easing over the rapid spread of a viral illness in China. "There's a hope that the coronavirus is contained, particularly in China," Interactive Investor analyst Richard Hunter told AFP. "And that's something of a relief rally -- (and) also with the earning season so far so good. "So the last few days provided an opportunity to investors to buy on the cheaper side," Hunter added. Approaching the half-way stage in Europe, London's benchmark FTSE 100 index was up 1.6 percent compared with Thursday's close. Asian stock markets earlier halted their slide with investor nerves eased after a week of volatility. But oil retreated further, while the dollar traded mixed against main rivals. China's coronavirus infection has killed at least 26 people while the number of confirmed cases has leapt to 830, health officials said. Authorities have shut down public transport in 13 cities -- together home to more than 40 million people -- around the epicentre of the outbreak in Wuhan. "Markets are fearful the virus could spread, and even if it doesn't the impact on China could be large," added National Australia Bank analyst Tapas Strickland. However, the World Health Organization has stopped short of declaring a global health emergency -- a rare instrument used only for the worst outbreaks. "The WHO has provided a hefty dose of market prescribed penicillin that has lowered investors' fever for the time being," said AxiCorp chief market strategist Stephen Innes. Hong Kong was down nearly four percent for the week but closed 0.2 percent higher after a half-day session ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday. Mainland bourses began their week-long break for the holiday, a day after the Shanghai exchange shed nearly three percent in its worst pre-Lunar New Year market fall on record. Fears remain that the holiday -- when hundreds of millions of people travel across China -- could catalyse a further spread of the virus and knock-on market headwinds. Oil benchmarks fell another 0.5 percent after shedding about 1.5 percent on Thursday on fears the viral outbreak would hit the aviation and transport sectors. "Traders remain incredibly twitchy about the effects the coronavirus outbreak could have on Chinese GDP and air travel more broadly," said AxiCorp chief market strategist Stephen Innes. Further market swings would "very much depend on the stream of outbreak headlines", he added. New York weathered the battering of global equities on Thursday with sentiment shifting after confirmation the WHO would not yet declare a global emergency. The Nasdaq edged to a new record, while the Dow finished slightly negative. London - FTSE 100: UP 1.6 percent at 7,625.44 points Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 1.4 percent at 13,575.06 Paris - CAC 40: UP 1.2 percent at 6,041.36 EURO STOXX 50: UP 1.4 percent at 3,788.05 Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.1 percent at 23,827.18 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 0.2 percent at 27,949.64 (close) Shanghai - Composite: Closed for a public holiday New York - DOW: DOWN 0.1 percent at 29,160.09 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1034 from $1.1055 at 2200 GMT Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3105 from $1.3123 Euro/pound: UP at 84.20 pence from 84.24 pence Dollar/yen: UP at 109.55 yen from 109.49 yen Brent Crude: DOWN 0.6 percent at $61.70 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.5 percent at $55.30 burs/rfj/bcp/rl
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