Shares in insurance firms hit hard

London's Ftse-100 index fell back, as a rising global death toll crushed hopes that the coronavirus crisis was subsiding, while insurers took a hit over halts in dividend payments and Tesco warned of a surge in costs.

Shares of Aviva, Direct Line, RSA, and Lloyds of London-member Hiscox fell between 3.8% and 8% after saying they were cancelling 2019 investor payouts.