Virus fears push ASX down 2%, materials and IT drag

Summary

• The ASX 200 was down 1.9% to 6036 points just beofre 2pm, the lowest it has been since 7 October
• The Dow Jones index fell 2.3%, the S&P500 shed 1.9%, and the Nasdaq dropped 1.6% overnight as investors sold off heavily
• Building materials giant Boral is selling its 50% share in its international plasterboard business to joint venture partner Knauf for $1.43b
• Blackmores rose 7.8% to a near four-week high of $68.38 this morning after announcing the sale of Global Therapeutics for $27m