North American stock indexes tumbled at the open on Wednesday, as investors fled to safe-haven assets after U.S. President Donald Trump warned of a “very, very painful two weeks” in reference to the U.S. death toll from the coronavirus.
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The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 689.78 points, or 3.15 per cent, at the open to 21,227.38.
The S&P 500 opened lower by 86.51 points, or 3.35 per cent, at 2,498.08, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 240.60 points, or 3.12 per cent, to 7,459.50 at the opening bell.
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In Toronto, the S&P/TSX composite index was down 352.39 points to 13,026.00 at 9:50 a.m. ET.
The Canadian dollar was trading at 70.55 cents US compared to an average of 70.49 cents US on Tuesday.
— With files from the Canadian Press
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