LONDON: Stock markets mostly dipped on Tuesday with traders kept in check by spiking coronavirus infections and the reimposition of some lockdowns around the world, dealers said.

Wall Street traded mixed heading towards midday, with the Dow shedding 0.3 per cent, as investors reacted also to news that a vaccine trial had been halted after a volunteer fell ill.

However, Nasdaq was 0.5pc higher ahead of Apple’s launch of its latest iPhone and as traders looked for tech stocks that will resist the coronavirus recession.

Across the Atlantic, the major indices finished lower, with London slipping 0.5pc one day after revamping Covid-19 restrictions, and as official data showed Britain’s unemployment rate had jumped to 4.5pc.

Asian stock markets mostly closed lower, while oil prices rebounded from recent losses on news of rising crude imports in key global consumer China. The dollar was higher against its main rivals.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2020