Equity market losses trigger marketwide trading halt
Equity markets opened sharply lower this week, triggering the first marketwide trading halt during market hours since 1997.After trading resumed in the morning, equities remained depressed throughout the day as the market reacted to the dramatic fall in oil prices and continued uncertainty about the ultimate impact from the coronavirus. Equity market volatility on Monday reached a level not seen since the 2008 financial crisis. In the 11 trading sessions from February24th to March9th, the S&P 500 (SPX) closed above or below 2% from the previous close eight times, and above or below 3%, six times.