The Brussels Stock Exchange opened slightly lower on Wednesday morning following the announcement of widespread containment in the context of the coronavirus epidemic.
The Bel 20 was down 0.4%, while other European stock exchanges were falling more sharply. However, the leading index of the Brussels Stock Exchange plunged gradually (-2.5% around 9:45 AM ).
The Frankfurt Stock Exchange opened down 3.63% while the Paris Stock Exchange was down 2.15%. Among our Dutch neighbours, Amsterdam was down 3%.
Belgian Shutdown
Eleven million more people will go into lockdown from Wednesday noon, as Belgium becomes the latest country in the EU to force public life to shut down to curb the coronavirus pandemic.
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Referred to as “necessary sacrifice,” the new measures are the most drastic ones taken by the National Security Council to date, and come days after France imposed a 15-day lockdown as well.
Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès said the new rules were “indispensable” to preserve public health, given the “seriousness of the situation,” according to an online statement.
The Brussels Times