How global markets will cope with a second wave June 13, 2020 Fears of a second wave of coronavirus have stubbed out hopes of swift economic recovery around the world, as the possibility of further lockdowns hangs heavy on global markets. While many countries seem to have a grip on the coronavirus crisis, the prospect of new infections in the US hinted in Wednesday’s Federal Reserve meeting [...]
UK economy: Five charts that show we face a long road to recovery June 13, 2020 The coronavirus pandemic has plunged the UK economy into an unprecedented crisis, with GDP shrinking by a record 20.4 per cent April as lockdown measures hammered businesses. The Bank of England has warned that Britain could be heading for its deepest recession in three centuries this year. It is widely believed that April will mark [...]
We must be ready for further stimulus, says Bank of England’s Andrew Bailey June 12, 2020 The Bank of England and other policymakers must be ready to take further action to help the UK’s economy because of the risk of the coronavirus shutdown causing long-term damage, governor Andrew Bailey has said. “We are still very much in the midst of this,” Bailey told broadcasters today. His comments come after new data [...]
Sterling sheds gains against dollar as Brexit fears weigh June 12, 2020 The pound shed early gains against the dollar this afternoon as concerns over Brexit coupled with dire UK economic data weighed on sterling. Sterling has been edging lower this week after rising 3.9 per cent against the dollar in last week’s rally. Having recovered briefly this morning to touch $1.2653, the pound soon flattened back [...]
UK economy shrinks 20 per cent in April lockdown in worst ever month June 12, 2020 The UK economy shrank by a record 20 per cent in the first full month of lockdown as shops sent workers home to close for the duration of April. Activity in the UK economy contracted by 20.4 per cent in April, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said today, marking the single largest monthly drop [...]
IMF says $10 trillion has been spent battling coronavirus but more is needed June 11, 2020 The global response to the coronavirus pandemic has cost governments around $10 trillion, but further efforts are needed to battle the outbreak, according to the head of the IMF. New estimates suggest that up to 100m could fall into extreme poverty as a result of the pandemic, IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva has said. She [...]
US Federal Reserve keeps interest rates near zero through 2022 June 10, 2020 The US Federal Reserve has said it will not raise near-zero interest rates until at least 2022, as it predicted a decline in growth. Along with the rate decisions, central bankers projected a 6.5 per cent fall in GDP this year and a 9.3 per cent unemployment rate by the end of the year. “The [...]
Covid-19 recession will be ‘different’ to others, says BoE’s Andrew Bailey June 10, 2020 The recession triggered by the coronavirus pandemic will be “different” to others, but some early signs of recovery are already apparent, Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey said. Speaking at a panel discussion today, Bailey said he could already see some signs of economic recovery as lockdown restrictions are lifted in the UK, but warned [...]
ECB may expand bond buying in future but no need yet, says board member June 10, 2020 The European Central Bank (ECB) may expand its crisis-fighting toolkit in the future but is not planning to do so imminently, a board member said, playing down the possibility of the central bank buying bonds issued by banks or by junk-rated companies. The ECB last week boosted its Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme to €1.35 trillion [...]
OECD: UK economy to take world’s biggest hit from Covid-19 June 10, 2020 The UK will suffer the largest economic hit from the coronavirus pandemic among major nations this year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has warned. Predicting that the UK economy could contract between 11.5 and 14 per cent in 2020, the organisation said Covid-19 represents the biggest peacetime economic downturn in a century [...]
