Sawt Falasteen - European stock markets, euro slump on banking fallout

The main US crude oil contract, WTI, slid under $70 per barrel for the first time since December 2021.

Eurozone equities tumbled more than three percent in value and the euro lost one percent against the dollar.

In Switzerland, Credit Suisse stock plunged more than 20 percent to strike record lows.

Shares in Switzerland's second-biggest bank hit 1.73 Swiss francs after the Saudi National Bank chief ruled out upping the key shareholder's stake in the Zurich-based lender, which has been rocked by repeated scandals.

"The financial sector in Europe is under significant turmoil today as a result of SVB's fallout," noted Naeem Aslam, chief investment officer at Zaye Capital Markets.

It follows the demise over the weekend of US lenders SVB and Signature Bank -- the biggest casualties since the global financial crisis of 2008.

Having slumped at the start of the week, global equities recovered Tuesday and in Asia on Wednesday before Europe's latest slump.

Bank shares tumbled across Europe, with Germany's Commerzbank and France's Societe Generale and BNP Paribas shedding more than 10 percent. British lender Barclays gave up about seven percent.

"What began as a regional banking crisis in the US has suddenly morphed into a European one," said IG analyst Chris Beauchamp.

"Surely the ECB are not going to hike yet again just as the crisis intensifies," he told AFP.

The European Central Bank is poised to raise interest rates again Thursday to tackle high inflation, but the banking crisis has fuelled concern about the health of the sector as borrowing costs increase.

"While the European Central Bank is seen have already pre-committed itself to a 50 basis-point rate hike tomorrow, this won't support the euro if concerns over the health of the financial sector remain dominant," added Rabobank analyst Jane Foley.

- Key figures around 1115 GMT -

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 2.3 percent at 7,462.86 points

Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 2.7 percent at 14,830.83

Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 3.1 percent at 6,917.62

EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 3.0 percent at 4,053.04

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: FLAT at 27,229.48 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 1.5 percent at 19,539.87 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.6 percent at 3,263.21 (close)

New York - Dow: UP 1.1 percent at 32,155.40 (close)

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0616 from $1.0735 on Tuesday

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2071 from $1.2156

Euro/pound: DOWN at 87.93 pence from 88.29 pence

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 133.74 yen from 134.20 yen

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.7 percent at $70.13 per barrel

Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 1.6 percent at $76.20 per barrel

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G.AbuHamad--SF-PST