European stocks fall sharply as Russia attacks Ukraine

European markets opened sharply lower on Thursday after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a military operation in Ukraine.

In the opening minutes of trade the FTSE 100 fell 2.5%, the French CAC 40 dropped 4% and Germany's Dax was 4% lower.

Earlier, Asian markets and US stock futures plunged on Thursday as news of the military action emerged. 

In the meantime, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index declined 3%, while Korea's Kospi dropped 2.6%. 

Japan's Nikkei 225 lost nearly 2% and China's Shanghai Composite moved 1.7% lower.

Furthermore, US stocks futures also tumbled as Dow futures were down as much as 780 points, or 2.4%. S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures were down 2.3% and 3% respectively.

The broad losses followed a sharp decline on Wall Street on Wednesday. 

The Dow closed down more than 464 points, or 1.4%, posting its fifth straight day of losses. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell 1.8% and 2.6%, respectively.

A world economy that’s still recovering from Covid-19 faces new risks from an energy-price spike as the Russia standoff escalates.

In the meantime, oil’s surge to $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014 represents a double-blow to the world economy by further denting growth prospects and driving up inflation.