Share market chaos explained: what’s behind the stock meltdown and will there be a recession?

Share markets around the world saw huge falls on Monday - with Japan's Nikkei sinking by 12% - after questions over the health of the US economy

Fears of a US recession have gripped global markets, triggering a share market rout that prompted investors across Asia, Europe and North America to all unwind their positions - at the same time.

The severe plunge has raised questions over whether investors are facing a historic share market crash - similar to the global financial crisis or 1987's Black Monday - or if it's simply an overdue pull-back after a stellar period of strong returns.