Brussels Attacks Could Change Brexit Outcome

European stocks, especially the transportation sector, were declining, in the wake of Tuesday’s terrorist attacks at the main Brussels airport and a metro station near European Union buildings.

Nandini Ramakrishnan, global market strategist at JPMorgan Asset Management, told CNBC’s “Worldwide Exchange” the blasts were likely to dampen a key driver of Europe’s recovery.

“I think there’s a larger story here, where these types of events do affect consumer sentiment,” Ramakrishnan said. “We’re worried about consumer discretionary sectors, which have been really pioneering the European recovery.”

European airlines stocks fell after news of explosions. Air France, for example, was down about 4 percent. Travel on small commercial flights, which Europe is known for, is likely to continue slowing as fears about terrorism reignite, Ramakrishnan said.

“[But] markets are a bit more resilient than we think, people are still waiting to see as the news develops,” she said. “It’s very difficult for traders and investors to position themselves in any way for something like this.”

The attacks in Brussels could impact the so-called “Brexit” referendum in June, said Ramakrishnan. “An event like today certainly does push the case for certain campaign language for the U.K. to leave the EU a bit further.”

via CNBC

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