Global equity markets tumbled on Thursday as the death toll from China’s coronavirus outbreak hit 170, pummeling oil prices and inverting a closely watched bond as investors worried about the world’s second-largest economy. Gold gained along with the safe-haven Japanese yen and Swiss franc, as the number of people infected by the virus in a fast-spreading health crisis surpassed 8,100 people globally, more than the total from the 2002-2003 SARS epidemic. The World Health Organization declared a public health emergency of international concern. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, said the group’s greatest concern is the potential for the outbreak to spread to countries with weaker health systems. The virus has spread to 18 countries. The International Monetary Fund said it was too soon to quantify the potential economic impact of the virus, which has halted tourism and commerce throughout China. Damage to China’s economy is […]