Europe

Police have stepped up security at key locations across the UK in the wake of the deadly attacks in Brussels. British prime minister David Cameron warned that Britain faces “a very real terror threat” announcing extra patrols at ports, airports, tube stations and major railway stations. Mark Rowley, the UK’s national police counter terrorism chief, said that increased police activity in the UK was a precaution. “As a precaution forces across the UK have increased policing presence at key locations, including transport hubs, to protect the public and provide reassurance.

Dozens murdered by terrorists in Brussels this morning. From the NYT:

VRT the Belgian public broadcaster have said that the death toll  in Brussels has risen to 34, with 20 people killed in the blast on a Metro train and 14 in explosions at the airport. Around 151 others were also injured. British prime minister David Cameron will chair a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee saying he was “shocked and concerned” after the explosions this morning. Cameron said “we absolutely stand” with the Belgian people and that he has spoken to the Belgian prime minister, offering condolences and security support.

It appears the 'shrug' of markets assuming a post-Paris panic-buying bounce has faded and now stocks and crude are tumbling as bonds and bullion are bid...

As we detailed earlier,

While stock markets are modestly lower, and "off the lows", perhaps in anticipation of the quite unbelievable panic-buying that occurred after the French terrorist attacks, investors have seemingly rotated from black gold to pet rocks for safety as the former drops back below $41 and the latter bounces back above $1250.

For the past month, despite the biggest quarterly bounce back from its lows in Dow Jones history, the market skepticism has not only remained but intensified: JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, SocGen, all have warned that this is a sucker's "bear market" squeeze, not the start of a real rally. Techniclans have been just as vocal in their skepticism, while the smart money has been selling relentlessly (not in its 8 consecutive week - more shortly).