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March 13 (Reuters) - European stock markets bounced back on
Friday from their worst day ever, as signs of a U.S. stimulus
package helped soothe fears about an economic shock from the
coronavirus pandemic.
The benchmark STOXX 600 index .STOXX was up 4% at 0805
GMT, following a 12% plunge on Thursday on rising fears of a
liquidity crunch after the European Central Bank decided to keep
interest rates steady.
The crash erased over $1 trillion from the value of European
firms and plunged the MSCI world index .MIWD00000PUS firmly
into a bear market, but sentiment stabilised on Friday after
indications that U.S. Democrats and Republicans could soon agree
on a stimulus package. Swiss diagnostics maker Roche ROG.S jumped 4.7% after the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued emergency authorisation
for a faster coronavirus test made by the company. German payments company Wirecard WDIG.DE soared 17.3% to
the top of the STOXX 600 after saying a KPMG audit found no
manipulation in Wirecard's financial statements.