In European Equity Markets the pan-European Stoxx 600 closed the session down by 1.95 percent, with financial services and oil and gas stocks leading the losses. The FTSE 100 in London shed 1.94 percent on Thursday. In Germany the DAX finished off by 1.36 percent, while stocks listed on the CAC 40 in Paris lost 1.79 percent on average. Britain’s WH Smith fell to the bottom of the index after announcing new plans to restructure its high street stores. Shares of the London-listed stock finished down 11.16 percent on the news.

In Currency Markets sterling rose against a weaker dollar on Thursday on hopes of a Brexit deal, but concern among investors about the Ireland border issue kept gains in check. Hopes are building that a trade deal between the European Union and Britain can be struck before an EU summit on Oct. 18. Sterling rose 0.3 percent to $1.3250, nearing a three-month high of $1.3295. The EU’s Barnier says Britain must accept possible checks on goods moving between its main island and its province of Northern Ireland.

In Commodities Markets oil prices fell to two-week lows on Thursday as global stock markets fell, with investor sentiment made more bearish by an industry report showing U.S. crude inventories rising more than expected. Brent crude fell $1.95 a barrel to a low of $81.14, its weakest since Sept. 26, before recovering a little to trade around $81.90. Brent lost 2.2 percent on Wednesday. On Oct. 3, it hit a four-year high of $86.74. U.S. light crude fell $1.54 to $71.63 but then recovered to around $72.25. The contract lost 2.4 percent in the previous session.

In US Equity Markets stocks fell on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 and the Dow marking their biggest daily declines since Feb. 8, and technology stocks were at the center of the declines. The S&P was down 1.33 percent, at 2,748.61 and the Nasdaq Composite was down 0.98 percent, at 7,349.44. The communications services,, consumer discretionary, energy and industrial sectors all showed declines of more than 1 percent. Trading was heavy with volume jumping 60 percent above the average for this time over the past 30 days.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields fell to one-week lows on Thursday, sliding for a second straight session. A weaker-than-expected rise in U.S. inflation for September also added to the bullish tone to Treasuries and may have partly paused expectations of a more aggressive Federal Reserve in terms of raising interest rates. U.S. 10-year note yields were last at 3.181 percent, down from 3.225 percent late on Wednesday. Earlier in the global session, 10-year yields hit a one-week low of 3.142 percent.