The BBC: U.S., European stock markets plunge on China fears

Stock markets across the U.S. and Europe have fallen sharply as fears of a Chinese economic slowdown continue to haunt investors, according to The BBC.

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Wall Street's Dow Jones was down 2% in mid-morning trading, having earlier fallen 6%, The BBC reported.

London's FTSE 100 index was 3.9% lower in late afternoon trade, with major markets in France and Germany down by 4.6% and 3.8% respectively.

The sell-off hit stocks across almost every sector in New York.

The Dow Jones at one point fell below 16,000 for the first time since February 2014, while the technology-heavy Nasdaq index was 2.4% lower in morning trade, recovering from an earlier plunge of 8%.

Shares in Asia were hit overnight, with the Shanghai Composite in China closing down 8.5%, its worst close since 2007.

At its lowest point in the day, the FTSE 100 had lost as much as 6%, wiping some GBP 100 billion off its value.

Global investors are worried about growth in the world's second largest economy.

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