China stocks ended lower on Wednesday as fears over the global coronavirus contagion rose, though losses were contained as new infections fell in China and investors expected a further stimulus from Beijing to support the domestic economy.
Metro Bank posted a 131 million pounds ($170 million)pretax loss on Wednesday, capping a year dominated by an accounting scandal that sent its stock into a tailspin, forced top bosses to quit and led some customers to shut accounts.
British public services outsourcer Serco said it would resume paying a dividend for the first time since 2014 after it left behind the "gravitational pull of past mis-steps" to post a 25% jump in 2019 profit.
Eddie Stobart warned of an annual loss after posting a half-yearly operating loss on Wednesday, hit by accounting-related issues that have delayed its interim results for months, and said it had taken an impairment charge of 169.2 million pounds ($219.86 million).
Japanese government bond prices dipped on Wednesday after a re-offering auction of long-dated bonds drew tepid demand as yields have fallen sharply this week on fears about the rapidly-spreading coronavirus.
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd (HKEX) warned the coronavirus outbreak had brought renewed uncertainty to its business, as it shrugged off political turmoil at home and abroad to post a small rise in annual profit on Wednesday.
Crude prices inched higher on Wednesday as investors covered short positions after three sessions of losses and eyed potential supply cuts, even as fears of a coronavirus pandemic deepened.
Here are some factors that may affect Middle East stock markets on Wednesday. Reuters has not verified the press reports and does not vouch for their accuracy.
China's yuan eased against the dollar on Wednesday, shrugging off a higher midpoint fixing by the central bank, as investors feared that the fast-spread of the coronavirus overseas could turn into a pandemic.
Chinese stocks recouped earlier losses to rise on Wednesday, as new coronavirus cases fell and investors expected further stimulus to support the world's second-largest economy.