FT News Briefing

Governments in all large western economies took drastic measures to limit public movement on Monday in an urgent effort to arrest the spreading coronavirus pandemic while US stocks plunged despite a set of emergency measures laid out by the Federal Reserve on Sunday. Plus, an analysis by the Financial Times finds that the UK and the US have key weaknesses in their healthcare systems which could trigger a collapse if put to the test by the outbreak.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates to zero and joined forces with other central banks in a bid to prevent a severe economic downturn caused by the coronavirus outbreak. The FT’s Gillian Tett unpacks the sweeping measures. Plus, the rapid spread of the coronavirus and the ensuing travel restrictions have led to one of the worst months on record for the airport industry, and French industrials group Air Liquide is asking would-be buyers of its hand sanitiser unit to offer a higher sum in the wake of the outbreak.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

US stocks fell almost 10 per cent in their worst day since the 1987 market crash despite emergency action by the Federal Reserve. Meanwhile, following the US ban on travellers from Europe, airlines are demanding immediate government action to alleviate the industry’s deepening crisis. Plus, companies took on vast amounts of debt in the era of low interest rates. The FT’s US business editor, Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, explains the risk this debt poses now.  We want to hear from you. Please go to FT.com/briefingsurvey, and fill out our survey for a chance to win a pair of Bose headphones.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Trump administration will suspend non-US citizens travelling from Europe for the next 30 days to reduce the spread of the coronavirus in America. This announcement came on the same day the World Health Organization labelled the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic for the first time, and the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average tipped into bear market territory. Plus, Boeing lost close to a fifth of its market value on after news that it had tapped the full amount of a $13.8bn loan to deal with the financial effects of the coronavirus.  Then, we will look at what to expect from Christine Lagarde and the European Central Bank today, now that the Federal Reserve and the Bank of England have made emergency rate cuts.  We want to hear from you. Please go to FT.com/briefingsurvey, and fill out our survey for a chance to win a pair of Bose headphones.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Joe Biden cemented his lead as the frontrunner in the Democratic presidential race, winning several states including the battleground of Michigan. Plus, airlines cancel flights, withdraw earnings guidance and implement austerity measures to cope with the travel slump caused by the coronavirus outbreak, and the head of the International Energy Agency warns Russia and Saudi Arabia risk hurting efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus if they insist on continuing an oil price war. Then, the FT’s Chris Giles explains how the UK budget, to be unveiled today, is expected to set some money aside to deal with the outbreak.  We want to hear from you. Please go to FT.com/briefingsurvey, and fill out our survey for a chance to win a pair of Bose headphones.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A crash in the price of oil rocked financial markets that were already reeling from the effects of the coronavirus. Meanwhile, Italy extended its quarantine to the entire country, two of the world’s largest medical research foundations are teaming up with a Mastercard-backed charity to commit $125m in “seed funding” to develop treatments for Covid-19, and US president Donald Trump says his administration will propose a relief package today to reduce the negative economic effects of the outbreak. Plus, EU leaders have vowed to work with Turkey to prevent renewed tensions at their shared border and revive a 2016 migration deal. And, the FT’s Derek Brower will explain how the oil price war has left US shale producers hanging on for survival.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Saudi Arabia has launched an aggressive oil price war after Russia refused to join production cuts with Opec, Italy locks down a huge swath of its wealthy northern area that is home to 16m people in order to contain the spread of coronavirus, and Citigroup confirmed that it is severing nearly two-thirds of the platforms it uses for currency trading as part of an effort to cut costs. Plus, Turkey is threatening to allow migrants to flow into Europe unless it gets more funding from the European Union. The FT’s Mehreen Khan and Laura Pitel explain the human tug-of-war.   We want to hear from you! Please go to FT.com/briefingsurvey, and fill out our survey for a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling headphones.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

US stocks dropped as Treasury yields touched records lows on Thursday and bank share price falls led the way, struggling Chinese ride-hailing group Didi Chuxing is suffering a further blow due to the coronavirus, and ExxonMobil says it will avoid a “beauty match” on carbon emissions as rivals set out targets. Plus, the world’s biggest oil traders slashed global demand forecasts with growth falling to the weakest levels since the financial crisis. The FT’s Anjli Raval explains how this adds pressure on Opec to cut output.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

US stocks recovered more than 4 per cent on Wednesday, a day after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 50 basis points and spooked investors, Rupert Murdoch’s youngest son, James, is making a seven-figure investment in start-ups aimed at combating fake news, and the US is ready to invest $5bn in Ethiopia in an effort to counter China’s influence in one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies. Plus, banks are gearing up in the event that the coronavirus outbreak forces traders to work offsite. The FT’s Laura Noonan explains why it is not as simple as bringing home your laptop.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Joe Biden emerged as a major contender in Super Tuesday voting, despite Bernie Sanders winning in California. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve failed to ease recession fears on Tuesday when it made an emergency interest rate cut. The FT’s Gillian Tett explains why. Plus, Tesla short sellers have reaped $2.8bn as US stocks tumbled, and Airbus is reviewing its 2020 delivery targets as the global spread of coronavirus hits demand from airlines.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

US stocks ended a seven-day losing streak on Monday on expectations that central banks will soften the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak and driverless car company Waymo raises $2.3bn from a group of outside investors. Plus, the FT’s George Parker explains the expectations of both the United Kingdom and the European Union as their trade talks begin.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Disruptions caused by the coronavirus are driving the global economy closer to a recession and triggering calls for fiscal and monetary intervention, activist hedge fund Elliott Management is pushing for big changes at Twitter after taking a $1bn stake, and the US state of Wyoming is in talks to buy millions of acres of land from Occidental Petroleum. Plus, if Bernie Sanders is elected US president, his policies have the potential to radically change the US financial system. The FT’s Robert Armstrong explains how Wall Street is weighing up the idea of a socialist in the White House.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

US equities closed in correction territory on Thursday on coronavirus concerns, while Saudi Arabia is asking its Opec allies to agree to a substantial cut in oil production to deal with crippling demand. Plus, a report from Beijing on how China is trying to get its factories back to work, and the FT’s Gillian Tett unpacks how the outbreak is affecting the global economy.    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Donald Trump sought to defuse criticism of his handling of the coronavirus and predicted stock markets would be booming again, while investors are betting that central banks will respond to the financial fallout from the outbreak with stimulus, and Microsoft has warned that supply chain disruption due to the virus will cause the company to miss its revenue guidance for its Windows and Surface products. Plus, Walmart is exploring the sale of a stake in the UK supermarket chain Asda.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A fresh wave of selling pressure rippled across global markets on Tuesday as public health officials warned Americans to prepare for the spread of the coronavirus, Bob Iger has stepped down as chief executive of Walt Disney a year after extending his contract, and Virgin Galactic shares fall after the space tourism company reports that losses widened in the fourth quarter. Plus, there has been a wave of leadership change at European banks in the past few months. The FT’s David Crow explains why the lenders are scrambling to find a new generation of chief executives.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.