European Markets Nosedive Monday as Global Coronavirus Cases Rise

European markets were falling Monday as investors appeared increasingly uncertain about the outlook of the global economy due to a resurgence of coronavirus cases across Europe and the United States.

Britain's benchmark FTSE index was down 0.2% at the midway point of the trading day. The CAC-40 index in France lost 0.4%, and Germany's DAX index plunged 2.2%.

Markets in the Asia-Pacific rim ended mostly lower earlier Monday. Japan's benchmark Nikkei index finished its trading session down 22 points, but unchanged percentage-wise.

The S&P/ASX index in Australia lost 0.1%. Shanghai's Composite index was 0.8% lower. South Korea's KOSPI index dropped 0.7%, while in South Asia, Mumbai's Sensex plunged 1.3%.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index gained 0.5%, and in Taiwan, the TSEC index finished up 10 points, but was unchanged percentage-wise.

In commodities trading, gold was selling at $1,906.20, up one point. U.S. crude oil was selling at $39.10 per barrel, down 1.8%, and Brent crude was selling at $41.05 per barrel, down 1.7%.

All three major U.S. indices were trending negatively in futures trading as investors awaited the opening bell on Wall Street.