London, Jan 29 (AFP/APP): European and US stock markets recovered further Wednesday, as positive Apple earnings and US data offset concerns over the spreading coronavirus that has caused airlines to suspended flights to China. Hong Kong’s main stocks index slumped 2.8 percent by the close as traders returning from the Lunar New Year break played catch-up with the global selloff triggered by the epidemic. The Dow index was 0.7 percent higher as trading got underway in New York. The dollar largely firmed against other major currencies, while oil prices climbed higher. “Risk sentiment is being given some reprieve from concerns over the novel coronavirus outbreak,” said Han Tan, market analyst at FXTM. “The positive surprise in Apple’s latest earnings overnight and Tuesday’s better-than-expected US consumer confidence reading… served as distractions from the coronavirus gloom that has beset investors.” Apple on Tuesday posted record results for the final three months of last year, delivered by gains in iPhone sales. But striking a sombre tone during an earnings call, chief executive Tim Cook said the company is closely watching the viral outbreak hitting China, where Apple has customers, partners, suppliers and employees. The outbreak could deal a heavy blow to China’s already-fragile … Continue reading Stock markets mostly rise, as airlines act over virus