TOKYO: Asian shares steadied on Friday in holiday-thinned trade for the Lunar New Year, despite fears that a new coronavirus from China could spread rapidly as millions of people travel over the week-long break.
Most markets had stabilised overnight, as investors took some solace from the World Health Organisation (WHO) labelling the outbreak an emergency for China, where 25 people have died and more than 800 have been infected, but not, as yet, for the rest of the world.
European shares, which had closed before the WHO announcement, were expected to rebound on Friday, with major European stock futures trading up around 0.7-0.9%, with a more positive tone.
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