There are 2,744 confirmed cases so far in China, 461 of which are in a critical condition. The death toll in China has risen to 80. The World Health Organization’s director general is traveling to China to meet with government and health officials.
Shares of Dow component Boeing were also weighing on the market on reports of a plane crash in Afghanistan. It was initially reported to be a plane from the state-owned Ariana Afghan Airlines. However, Reuters has since said that the airline’s acting CEO Mirwais Mirzakwal has denied that one of its planes has crashed.
Meanwhile, the United States is waiting for further clarity from the European Union over plans to introduce a carbon tax. The U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told the Financial Times the U.S. would react if the new tax is deemed to be protectionist.