Lockdown fears rattle investors, spark dash for safe-havens...
European stocks retreated from record highs, while government bond yields, oil prices and the euro tumbled on Friday as the specter of a fresh COVID-linked lockdown in Germany and other parts of Europe cast a fresh shadow over the global economy.
Markets went into a tailspin after news that Austria will become the first western European state to reimpose a full coronavirus lockdown to tackle a new wave of infections and signs that Germany might do the same.
Such worries helped send oil prices down 3%, while investors made a dash for so-called safe assets such as government bonds, the dollar and the yen.
As the dollar rallied 0.4%, the euro slid to $1.1283
