(Bloomberg) — The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus topped 1,000, according to a Johns Hopkins tally. The Senate approved a more-than-$2 trillion stimulus package. Singapore estimated that its economy contracted the most in a decade, an early sign of what’s in store for many.
The U.S. Senate’s approval of the record fiscal program to address the coronavirus sends the bill to the House of Representatives, which will meet Friday. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer expects it to pass.
Japan is setting up a panel to consider declaring an emergency after a spike in cases in Tokyo prompted officials to adopt a tougher approach. The health minister warned of a high risk infections will become rampant. Key Developments:
Cases reach 471,518; 21,306 dead, 114,858 recovered: Johns HopkinsFauci warns of potential for another cycle of infectionsRefugee camps housing millions of people brace for a surge in virus casesU.S. Senate passes $2 trillion relief packageJapan inches toward declaring an emergency
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French Business Confidence Tumbles by a Record (2:35 p.m. Hong Kong)
An index of business confidence in France fell to 95 in March from 105 the month before, statistics office Insee said Thursday. The 10-point drop is the largest in the series and was bigger than economists had anticipated. The drop echoes that seen in Germany in figures earlier this week, and reflects French President Emmanuel Macron’s move to put the country in lockdown in an effort to contain the spread of the virus.
Thailand, Resistent Until Recently, Sees Cases Breach 1,000 (2:15 p.m. Hong Kong)
Thailand, a Southeast Asian country now entering what’s traditionally one of its hottest periods of the year, saw total cases surpass 1,000 following confirmation of 111 new cases Thursday. The total number may reach 3,500 by the end of April if the infection rate continues at this pace, according to Anupong Sujariyakul, senior expert in preventive medicine at the Disease Control Department.
India Addresses Confusion Over Three-Week Lockdown Measures (1:27 p.m. HK)
After India’s stringent nationwide lockdown order threw the nation’s ports into confusion, the Ministry of Home Affairs clarified that essential infrastructure will be allowed to keep operating.
The interstate movement of goods for domestic use or for export will be allowed, the ministry said. Movement of essential goods, including petroleum products, food products and medical supplies across the country’s land borders is also allowed during the lockdown.
Senate Approves Rescue Plan on a 96-0 Vote 11:48 a.m. HK)
The package of more than $2 trillion in measures provides for about $500 billion in loans and assistance for big companies, including struggling airlines, as well as states and cities. There is a separate pot of about $350 billion for small businesses. For individuals, the legislation provides direct payments to lower- and middle-income Americans of $1,200 for each adult, as well as $500 for each child. Unemployment insurance would be vastly expanded.
The House is scheduled to vote on the legislation Friday. President Donald Trump has urged Congress to act “without delay” and said he would sign the legislation immediately.
U.S. Coronavirus Death Toll Passes 1,000 (11:41 a.m. HK)
Over 1,000 people in the U.S. have died from the coronavirus, according to data tracked by Johns Hopkins University.
That puts the U.S.’s death toll just behind France, which has 1,331 deaths. Italy has suffered the highest death toll in the widening global pandemic, with more than 7,500 deaths as of Thursday.
The grim milestone comes as cases of infection in the U.S. rapidly increase and the World Health Organization warned that the country could become the next epicenter of the worldwide outbreak.
Japan to Set up Panel Looking at Emergency Declaration (11:37 a.m. HK)
Japan will set up a panel as soon as Thursday to consider declaring an emergency over the coronavirus pandemic, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said. While he told reporters at a briefing Thursday that the Abe administration isn’t thinking of declaring an emergency now, Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said he has told the prime minister there’s a high risk of the virus spreading broadly.
Governors of prefectures neighboring Tokyo will join their counterpart from the Japanese capital in urging people to stay home over the weekend, Kyodo reported. Tokyo is in a “critical moment” over a potential explosion in cases, Governor Yuriko Koike said Wednesday. She asked that citizens work from home and not go out at night during weekdays.
Canada Sees a 72% Surge in Confirmed Cases (10:03 a.m. Hong Kong)
In Canada, the number of confirmed cases rose to 3,385, an increase of 72% over the course of the day. There were 35 deaths, a rise of roughly 30%. It was not immediately clear if improvements in testing contributed to the spike in cases.
Singapore GDP Shrinks, But Government Tamps Down Budget-Size Speculation (9:39 a.m. HK)
Singapore’s gross domestic product fell an annualized 10.6% in the first quarter from the previous three months, far worse than the median forecast for an 8.2% contraction in a Bloomberg survey. The government said it now sees a sharp contraction in the economy of 1% to 4% for the full year.
Even so, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat advised against having “excessive expectations” about the size of the upcoming budget aimed at addressing the outbreak.
Singapore was among the first outside of China to be hit with coronavirus cases earlier this quarter, and it is often seen as a bellwether for global trade given the openness of its economy. New Zealand’s economy could also contract by as much as 10%, initial estimates of economists show.
South Korea Joins Ranks of Central Banks Deploying QE (9:37 a.m. HK)
The Bank of Korea will conduct weekly money-market operations aimed at providing an “unlimited” amount of liquidity for three months. The initiative will start in April, and is designed to stabilize financial markets. It “wouldn’t be too wrong” to see the move as quantitative easing, a BOK official said.
The sharpest spike in years in premiums for companies to borrow in many funding markets around the world has pushed global monetary policy makers to adopt unorthodox measures. The U.S., Australia, New Zealand and several others have all taken unprecedented actions this month.
EU Vows to Be ‘Vigilant’ on Possible Hostile Takeovers (7:25 a.m. HK)
European Union regulators warned about hostile foreign takeovers of EU-based companies as a result of the economic slump triggered by the pandemic, putting the spotlight on medical businesses. The European Commission issued guidance to EU national capitals on enacting new bloc-wide legislation meant to prevent foreign direct investments from threatening national security.
Member countries must be “particularly vigilant” to ensure that “the current health crisis does not result in a sell-off of Europe’s business and industrial actors,” the Brussels-based commission said in the document published on Wednesday evening.
Fauci Sees Potential for Another Cycle of Infections (6:53 a.m. HK)
Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said at a White House briefing that it’s possible the coronavirus could become a seasonal affliction, with further waves of infections coming. He noted that the number of cases in the southern hemisphere is rising as the winter season approaches there.
“I know we’ll be successful in putting this down now. But we really need to be prepared for another cycle,” Fauci said. He said it’s vital that a vaccine be developed for the next cycle, along with a “menu” of treatment drugs that have been shown to be successful and safe.
At the same briefing, White House coronavirus task force member Deborah Birx highlighted that the number of new cases in New York City has been relatively constant the past three days, and said that “we’re close to working through the testing backlog.”
U.S. Governors Say Federal Stimulus Package Provides States Insufficient Funding (6:47 a.m. HK)
U.S. governors whose states have been hardest hit by the crisis say the fiscal package wending its way through Congress doesn’t go far enough in providing funding to states and localities that are facing unprecedented financial pressures as they battle the coronavirus.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the $3.8 billion for his state and $1.3 billion for New York City is a “drop in the bucket.” Lost tax revenue will cost the state as much as $15 billion, he said. Governor Gavin Newsom of California, which has the third-highest U.S. case count, said he strongly believes the federal government will need to do more. Both are Democrats.
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, a Republican who chairs the National Governors Association, said at a press conference Wednesday that “we’re gonna come back and ask for additional funding for the states and local governments to help with this crisis in the next round of stimulus.”
Trump Expected to Have FEMA Direct Supplies Among States (6:24 a.m. HK)
The Trump administration is expected to soon direct how manufacturers will distribute crucial medical supplies — including protective gear and ventilators — to combat the outbreak, alleviating what U.S. governors have complained is a chaotic marketplace for the products.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will take charge of allocating the supplies nationwide, according to three people familiar with the matter, under a clause of the Defense Production Act.
