Global markets rocked as US-China trade and tech rift deepens

Shares fall sharply in Asia, Europe and North America in intensifying war of words

The deepening trade and technology war between the US and China has sent global stock markets sharply lower and prompted a warning from the IMF of the increasing risks to the global economy.

Shares fell sharply in Europe and North America on Thursday as investors took fright at the the intensifying war of words between Washington and Beijing, poor news on the American economy, and political chaos in Britain.