Asia shares struggle for footing after rough virus-scarred week

SYDNEY — Asian share markets fought to regain their footing on Friday as investors clutched at hopes China could contain the coronavirus, even as headlines spoke of more cases, mounting deaths, flight suspensions and production pauses at factories. The World Health Organization on Thursday declared a global emergency as the virus spread to more countries. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, said the greatest worry was the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan extended its fall, dropping 0.4%, to be poised for its worst weekly loss in a year of 4.6%. Its 2.3% dive on...