UK shares slide as central bank moves fail to quell virus fears

UK shares mirrored steep declines in global stock markets on Monday, as coordinated stimulus actions by central banks across the world failed to calm panic-stricken investors who feared deeper economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic.

London's blue-chip FTSE 100 index .FTSE dropped 5.3 per cent to its lowest since October 2011, adding to a 17 per cent drop last week.

Airline stocks took the biggest hit as Britain's government looked set to discuss how to help the sector after major airlines including Virgin Atlantic and easyJet (EZJ.L) said the state would need to step in to prevent a collapse.

ICAG (ICAG.L), the owner of British Airways, slid 20 per cent after saying it would cut its flying capacity by at least 75 per cent in April and May. Share of EasyJet and TUI AG (TUIT.L) slumped 21 per cent and 24 per cent, respectively.

In a bid to improve liquidity and ease strains in global funding markets, the US Federal Reserve slashed its interest rates to near zero on Sunday, while its peers in New Zealand, Australia and Japan unveiled their own measures.

Shares in major lenders including Barclays (BARC.L), Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L) and LLoyds Banking Group (LLOY.L) fell between 4.6 per cent and 9 per cent.

The moves, however, gave little impetus for investors as things worsened over the weekend, with holiday destinations such as Spain declaring a state of emergency and the Trump administration adding Britain and Ireland to its list of countries facing travel curbs.