Investing.com - European shares slid to their lowest since October 2014, following losses in U.S and Asian markets as oil prices continued to slump, hitting risk appetite.
Germany's DAX, France's CAC and Britain's FTSE were all down around 3% and also set for their biggest fall of the year so far.
U.S. crude wallowed at its lowest since 2003 after the world's energy watchdog warned the market could "drown in oversupply."
U.S. stock futures were also lower, indicating a weak start on Wall Street.
Risk aversion boosted appetite for the yen, a traditional safe-haven, which rose more than 1% against the dollar.