Markets: Flight To Safety As Nikkei Falls 5.4%

The global stock market rout has intensified, with Japan's Nikkei losing 5.4% of its value amid a rush for safe havens such as gold and the yen. While trading across Asia was largely muted because of continuing Chinese New Year holiday celebrations, the Nikkei followed European and US stock markets down after they endured further losses on Monday. It was a brutal session in Japan, though the Nikkei's close failed to spill into Europe in early trading, with the FTSE 100 (NasdaqGS: Z - news) openi