Since January 2020, Elsevier has provided free information on the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, through its COVID-19 resource centre, available in English and Mandarin. This resource is accessible on Elsevier Connect and includes research that is freely available in PubMed Central and other public repositories. The article discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global financial markets, highlighting the unprecedented risks and investor losses. It explores patterns of country-specific and systemic risks, analyzing the effects of policy interventions like the US zero-percent interest rate and unlimited quantitative easing. The study shows that financial markets experienced significant volatility, with stock markets in the US, Europe, and Asia plummeting. The paper also examines the correlation between pandemic developments and market reactions, using data up to March 27, 2020. It finds that market risks increased substantially, with the US experiencing the highest volatility. The analysis also reveals that global financial markets became more interconnected during the pandemic, with Asian markets showing increased integration after the WHO declared a pandemic. The study concludes that while policy interventions helped stabilize markets, they introduced new uncertainties, especially for emerging economies. The research emphasizes the need for coordinated global responses to manage the economic and financial impacts of the pandemic.Since January 2020, Elsevier has provided free information on the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, through its COVID-19 resource centre, available in English and Mandarin. This resource is accessible on Elsevier Connect and includes research that is freely available in PubMed Central and other public repositories. The article discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global financial markets, highlighting the unprecedented risks and investor losses. It explores patterns of country-specific and systemic risks, analyzing the effects of policy interventions like the US zero-percent interest rate and unlimited quantitative easing. The study shows that financial markets experienced significant volatility, with stock markets in the US, Europe, and Asia plummeting. The paper also examines the correlation between pandemic developments and market reactions, using data up to March 27, 2020. It finds that market risks increased substantially, with the US experiencing the highest volatility. The analysis also reveals that global financial markets became more interconnected during the pandemic, with Asian markets showing increased integration after the WHO declared a pandemic. The study concludes that while policy interventions helped stabilize markets, they introduced new uncertainties, especially for emerging economies. The research emphasizes the need for coordinated global responses to manage the economic and financial impacts of the pandemic.