Global markets suffer worst week of the year

Equity markets across the globe were punished this week as fresh fears about a slowdown in China spooked investors.

Yesterday's release of the Caixin/Markit manufacturing index, which showed activity in August in China's factory sector fell at its fastest rate in almost six and a half years, prompted a further sell-off. It compounded fears about a slowdown for the world's second largest economy, with many emerging market economies already struggling with the fall-out from last week's shock devaluation of the yuan which sent their currencies into freefall. The 'vulnerable' economies after China's surprise currency move The S&P 500 suffered its biggest fall since February 2014 yesterday, down 2...