Coronavirus: Daily News and Updates

FTSE 100 Index finished the day at 5,800 points

A better day on European markets after yesterdays falls, with the FTSE 100 up 1.00 per cent and Germany’s main index up 1.24 per cent.

After the surprise gains on Thursday, the Dow Jones and S&P 500 in America are trading slightly down in afternoon trading.

Coronavirus: Estimated speed of coronavirus infections rises over the past week

Sky News – The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) said the UK reproduction number for the coronavirus is now between 0.7 and 1, up from 0.5 to 0.9 last week.

Coronavirus could but all be wiped out in London by June 2020

According to several UK media outlets and Public Health England, the virus could be eradicated in the capital by June as new cases have dropped to under 30 people a day and reproduction rate “r” has fallen to 0.4 in London.

Mysterious sell-off in forgotten stocks shows China’s unfinished capital market reform

South China Morning Post – The Shanghai B-share index, which tracks US dollar-denominated shares of 49 companies, tumbled by as much as 7.2 per cent on Tuesday to its lowest level since September 2009. In Shenzhen, shares denominated in Hong Kong dollars of 46 companies lost up to 3.7 per cent on the same day.

Global stock market rout as Covid-19 reality hits shares

It started in Asia and continued in Europe and then the US markets.

The FTSE 100 index fell by 2.75 per cent finishing the day on 5,741 points.

US markets have recovered slightly before the close but the reality is Covid-19 is going to have a long term effect on global stock markets and economies for years to come.

One in four US workers claiming jobless benefits

BBC News – The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits jumped by almost 3 million last week as virus shutdowns continue to weigh on the US economy.

Asia-Pacific markets continue with the downward trend

Markets in Japan, Hong Kong and China are all posting negative returns on Thursday 14th May.

The Nikkei 225 is down 1.70 per cent before the close. The Hang Seng and SEE Composite Index are both down 1.30 and 0.70 per cent in afternoon trading.

Current futures indicate that the FTSE 100 is likely to drop 100 points in early trading mirroring yesterdays loses on the market.

Global stock markets in the red after Coronavirus concerns

Global stock markets fell today with further concerns about US-China relations and the US Federal Reserve indicating growth will be weak and for an extended period beyond a v-shaped recovery.

The day started with falls in Asia-Pacific markets which was replicated in Europe.

The FSTE 100 Index dropped 1.51 per cent with Carnival and Melrose among the biggest fallers.

In America, the Dow Jones and S&P 500 are down 2.00 and 1.77 per cent in the early afternoon trading.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak warns of ‘significant recession’

BBC News – The chancellor has said it is “very likely” the UK is in a “significant recession”, as figures show the economy contracting at the fastest pace since the financial crisis.

UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP): Quarter on Quarter Growth drops 2.00 per cent 

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) has published the UK’s latest GDP figures for the first quarter of 2020. The quarter on quarter drop was 2.00 per cent a little less than the 2.60 per cent expected but less than the Euro Area contraction of 3.80 per cent.

The fall was compounded by the service sector output in March, which contributed 1.55 per cent of the quarterly drop.

The last time GDP drop as much was quarter four in 2008 at the height of the credit crunch, but unlike that crisis, the second-quarter figure in 2020 is going to be worse.

Analysis are predicted that the second-quarter figures are going to see a fall of 35 per cent.

Hong Kong, Asia-Pacific stocks weighed down by US top Coronavirus expert warning of ‘real risk’ of opening businesses too soon

South China Morning Post – America’s top virus expert warned reopening businesses too soon could trigger a resurgence, while the Chinese city where the pandemic originated ordered testing after new cases emerged.

FTSE 100 index ends the day near the 6,000 point mark

The FTSE 100 index ends the day up 0.93 per cent against a mostly poor day on all other major indices.

Asia-Pacific and American markets ended the trading day in the red after continual Coronavirus worries and US-China relations. 

UK furlough scheme extended by four months

BBC News: The UK scheme to pay wages of workers on leave because of coronavirus will be extended to October, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said.

FTSE 100 starts the day positive with Asia-Pacific Markets in the red

London’s FTSE 100 Index has started the day up 0.60 per cent heading towards 6,000 points.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 ended the day slightly down 0.12 per cent and in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng is down 1.50 per cent an hour before the close.

China’s main index the SSE Composite is down 0.10 per cent before the close. 

China announces new raft of US imports eligible for trade war tariff exemptions

South China Morning Post –  China has published a second batch of products to be exempt from US trade war tariffs, effective from May 19 for one year.

FTSE 100 Index finishes the day where it started 

 After a promising start, the index finishes the day 3.75 points up at 5,939 after initially hitting 6,000 in early morning trading.

IAG the own of British Airway and Easyjet were both falls after a 14-day quarantine period for travellers arriving into the UK could be implemented.

In America the Dow Jones and S&P 500 are both down in early afternoon trading. 

Stock Markets Start the Week on a Positive Footing

Global stock markets continue to move in the right direction which continues to defy logic when taking the economic factors of the Coronavirus into account.

The Hang Seng (Hong Kong) and Nikkei 225 (Japan) both gaining over 1.00 per cent on last weeks close. China’s main SSE Composite Index remains flat before the close.

In Europe, the FTSE 100 index is trading 1.00 per cent up in the early session and US futures indicate that the Dow Jones and S&P 500 will open in positive territory.

Watch in full – Boris Johson Covid-19 announcement 10th May 2020

Wuhan lab chiefs insist facility is secure as coronavirus claims circulate

South China Morning Post – Leading officials at the Wuhan Institute of Virology have insisted they adhere to strict security standards following claims the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 originated from the lab .