Swirling uncertainty over US President Donald Trump's political future saw world stocks extend their steepest fall in over six months on Thursday, though there were signs of stabilisation elsewhere as the dollar and gold steadied.
Reports that Trump had tried to intervene in an investigation into alleged Russian interference in last year's US election and that his aides had numerous undisclosed contacts with Russian officials kept market tensions high.
Europe's bourses dropped between 0.8 and 1.3% as the selling pressure built again and Wall Street was expected to open down as much as 0.5%, having suffered its biggest thumping in over eight