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* Oil, banks lead sectoral declines
* Shell to write down value of oil and gas assets again
* Frankfurt shares of BioNtech jump 1.7%
(Updates to close)
By Susan Mathew
Dec 21 (Reuters) - European shares fell on Monday in their
worst session in almost two months as the rapid spread of a new
strain of the coronavirus forced more stringent curbs in Britain
and travel bans from several countries.
Broad-based losses pushed the pan-European STOXX 600 index
down 2.3%, its lowest close since mid-November, after
the UK imposed an effective lockdown and reversed plans to ease
curbs over Christmas as the new strain is up to 70% more
transmissible than the original.
A long list of countries from around the world closed their
borders to Britain, with European neighbour France's ban also
including freight carriers.
A plunge in the pound limited losses in London's FTSE
to 1.7%, while main indexes in Germany, France
, Spain and Italy all dived close to 3%.
Spain's IBEX posted its worst day in six-months.
"Markets are reeling from the latest twist in the
coronavirus crisis which has clouded the outlook for the
remainder of 2020 and much of the first quarter of 2021," said
AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.
"Restrictions on traffic between the UK and other countries,
including in the case of France on freight, has raised the
pressure on a supply chain already creaking under the weight of
an online Christmas and Brexit uncertainty."
Travel and leisure stocks had their worst day in
three months, with British Airways owner IAG, Trainline
and travel company TUI down between 1% and
10.5%. Cruise operator Carnival Corp shed 5.6%.
As crude oil prices slid, energy companies BP
, Total and Royal Dutch Shell lost
almost 5%, leading losses in Europe.
Shell was further weighed down by a $3.5 billion to $4.5
billion writedown in the value of oil and gas assets.
Banks lost 3.6% - their worst day since September,
as risk aversion sent investors fleeing to the safety of bonds.
Uncertainty over Brexit trade deal negotiations added to
pressure on the market. With less than two weeks before Britain
leaves the European Union's orbit, neither side has budged far
enough for a breakthrough.
Worries about the new virus strain also reduced the impact
of an agreement on a $900 billion fiscal aid package in the
United States that will be voted on Monday.
Vaccines should still be effective against the new strain,
scientists said. Britain has already rolled out the
Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine, while the European Medicines Agency
approved the vaccine on Monday. A European Commission nod is
expected later in the day for a European roll-out.
Frankfurt shares of BioNtech rose 1.7%.
Among the few gainers were healthcare and consumer stocks
such as Reckitt Benckiser and grocery retailer Ocado
.
(Additional reporting by Supriya R in Bengaluru; editing by
Uttaresh.V/Sriraj Kalluvila/Jane Merriman)
