Trading has been halted in three banks this morning after shares fell as much as 75 percent when the market opened moments after Joe Biden claimed US banking is safe.
Western Alliance Bancorps stock price dropped by three quarters as the opening bell sounded while shares in First Republic Bank dived 67 percent and PacWest Bancorp plunged more than 35 percent. Trading was swiftly suspended to protect the market from rampant volatility.
According to Daily Mail, Major US banks were also hit as contagion fears spread through the sector with Wells Fargo falling 7.5 percent, Bank of America dropping 7.4 percent, Citigroup falling 5.8 percent and JP Morgan down 2.7 percent.