Europe

BERLIN — Spain prepared to declare a state of emergency on Saturday and Italy tightened its lockdown by closing down parks, while Denmark and Poland became the latest countries to shut their borders to most travelers in a bid to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

Italy is living through an incomprehensible tragedy

Gains in equity futures contracts have been capped at 5 percent during overnight trading under rules imposed after the "flash crash" of 2010.

President Trump made a bold move in shutting our borders to the European Union for 30 days while former vice president Joe Biden attempts to argue this is a nationalistic move.

"The doctors that I have spoken to here are being faced every day with making the decision of who they're going to try to save and who they're going to let die," Tematica Research chief macro strategist Lenore Hawkins said Thursday.

The central bank for the 19 countries that use the euro decided to buy up to 120 billion euros ($132 billion) more in bonds this year.

The Dow’s drop of 1,464 points dragged it 20 percent below the record set last month and put the index in a bear market

Italy’s premier says all stores except pharmacies and grocery stores are being closed nationwide in response to the country’s coronavirus outbreak.

In the U.S., the caseload passed 1,000, and outbreaks on both sides of the country were stirring alarm.

The European Central Bank meets this week