US shares started, as expected, well down as traders flee equities after another bout of sharp selling in Asia overnight.
Around 45% or 1,300 stocks are now suspended in China due to the recent rout, which has wiped trillions off the value of markets, despite huge efforts by the Chinese authorities to quell the tide.
China’s currency, the yuan, also tumbled to a four-year low against the dollar.
The Shanghai Composite Index closed the last session 220 points down, or 5.91% , while the Nikkei in Japan lost 3.13% , or 639 points
For a while, at least , the turmoil has pushed the Greek debt drama to one side, it would appear, though that is very much still in play, with Athens now having been given another final deadline.
Meanwhile, on Wall Street, the Dow Jones opened 191 points lower at 17,590, while the Nasdaq was 63 points down at 4,934. The S&P500 lost 21 at 2,059i in volatile trading.
In London, FTSE100 is 0.76% higher, with Glencore (LON:GLEN) the biggest gainer, up 3.105
UK Chancellor George Osborne today delivered the first all Conservative Budget for almost 20 years, which saw income tax changes and sweeping welfare cuts. Also the introduction of a new minimum wage.
Housebuilders were among the early responders to the chancellor, with shares falling sharply.
Barratt Development (LON:BDEV) and Persimmon (LON:PSN) both lost over 5% as changes to tax breaks on buy-to-let properties were unveiled.