Trading was halted on North American markets for the third time in a week as anxieties over COVID-19 triggered major sell-offs.
The TSX composite index plunged at the opening bell Monday (March 16), falling more than 1,500 points before trading resumed again at 6:46 a.m. after a 15-minute pause.
Canada’s main index was down 10.2% by 7:15 a.m.
Meanwhile, the Dow Jones fell more than 2,200 points when trading opened the morning after the U.S. Federal Reserve announced it was cutting its benchmark rate to 0%.
The sharp fall also triggered a halt to trading south of the border.
The Bank of Canada cut its benchmark rate 50 basis points to 0.75% on Friday (March 13).
It was the second time in nine days the central bank cuts its benchmark rate in a bid to inject more capital into the economy.
