A new strain of virus that is more contagious than Delta has emerged in South Africa, with markets worried about a new global outbreak. Dow futures fell by 463 points or 1.3 per cent to 35,283, while S & P 500 futures fell by 1 per cent to 4650. With the exception of Vietnam's 0.3 per cent rise and 1511 record highs, no stock in the Asia-Pacific region was spared. In particular, the losses in Taiwan and Australia stocks widened to 1.7 per cent.

The Hang Seng Index fell further to 627 points in the afternoon, falling as low as 24jiao 112, temporarily holding steady the low of 23jie 681 set early last month. It is now reported at 24jie 145, down 595 points or 2.4%, with a turnover of 79.3 billion yuan.

Blue chips have not been spared the decline, today's list of Meituan (266.3 yuan) lost 50 antenna, as low as 260.2 yuan, now reported 261.8 yuan, giving up 4.5%; Tencent (00700.HK) and BABA (09988.HK) fell more than 3%, down 460 yuan and 130.2 yuan respectively, the latter hit a new low in the afternoon.

The decline in Hao gambling stocks expanded to 4% Mel 7.4%, while blue chip Silver Entertainment (00027.HK) and Sands (01928.HK) fell 6.4% and 7.4% respectively to 46.35 yuan and 19.68 yuan.

Financial stocks China Merchants Bank (03968.HK), Ping An Insurance (02318.HK), 00005.HK (foreign exchange control) and 01299.HK (AIA) fell 2.5% to 61.70 yuan, 55.65 yuan, 44.7 yuan and 84.65 yuan respectively.