World shares sink as Covid, war trump solid China data

BANGKOK: World share prices have fallen, with Hong Kong down by almost 6 percent and Shanghai sinking by 5 percent as lockdowns and rising numbers of coronavirus cases in China threaten to disrupt manufacturing and trade.

The selloff gathered pace late in the session despite the release of data showing strong increases in Chinese retail sales, industrial production and investment in January and February. It followed a decision by the country's central bank not to ease interest rates to spur economic growth.