(Sharecast News) - HSBC's research department in the City was evacuated and sanitized after an employee tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus.

The investment bank's trading floor at Canary Wharf however was thus far unaffected.

Shares in the Asia-focused lender slumped 0.86% to 507.80p on the back of the reports, having earlier traded as high as 518.0p.