Global shares drop on worries over surging virus cases

Global shares are mostly lower as rising cases of coronavirus infections in the U.S., Europe and Asia add to worries that economies will once again be hamstrung by pandemic restrictions on travel and businesses

TOKYO — Global shares mostly traded lower Friday as rising cases of coronavirus infections in the U.S., Europe and Asia add to worries that economies will once again be hamstrung by pandemic restrictions on travel and businesses.

France’s CAC 40 shed less than 0.1% to 5,360.55 in early trading, while Germany’s DAX lost nearly 0.2% to 13,029.38. Britain’s FTSE 100 slipped 0.5% to 6,304.49. But U.S. shares were set for gains, with Dow futures up 0.5% at 29,143 and S&P 500 futures up 0.6% at 3,555.25.

Reports of surging COVID-19 cases have had a sobering effect on markets that had advanced on hopes for a vaccine and expectations that pro-business policies…