March, 2020

• 16 March

  Oil plunges to lowest since 2016 as demand collapse triggers rout

  

  Bloomberg Oil’s spectacular collapse deepened as widening global efforts to fight the spread of the coronavirus looked set to trigger the most severe contraction in annual oil demand in history. Futures tumbled more than 9% after losing a quarter of their value last week. Demand for jet fuel, gasoline and diesel is falling off a cliff as a result of …

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• 16 March

  UK house prices climb to record in March

  

  Bloomberg Asking prices for UK homes rose to a record in March as the market appeared undented by the coronavirus outbreak that’s threatening economies across the globe. Values increased 1% on the month to an average 312,625 pounds, Rightmove said in a report on Monday. In London, they gained 1.6% from a month earlier to 638,826 pounds. Both gauges posted …

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• 16 March

  US equities hit limit-down; Japanese yen rebounds

  

  Bloomberg US equity futures tumbled by their limits and Treasuries surged at the start of what’s set to be another volatile week, with investors responding to the rapidly escalating economic hit from the coronavirus and a massive emergency move by the Federal Reserve to ease lending. Contracts on the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100 and Dow Jones Industrial Average all sank …

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• 16 March

  Indian stocks extend slump to lowest since 2017 amid virus fear

  

  Bloomberg India’s benchmark stock index slumped to its lowest since September 2017 after entering a bear market last week amid concern that the novel coronavirus outbreak may threaten the nation’s already fragile economy. The S&P BSE Sensex fell 8% to 31,390.07 in Mumbai, with all 30 members declining, following a wild session last week, when the gauge swung to end …

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• 16 March

  Zimbabwe restricts old mutual shares’ trading

  Bloomberg Zimbabwean Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube restricted trading in three companies’ stocks to try and halt a rout of the nation’s currency. The measure to limit trading of dual-listed shares Old Mutual Ltd, PPC Ltd and Seed Co will be in place for a year, Ncube said in a Government Gazette. The order doesn’t have any impact on the settlement …

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• 16 March

  Central banks coordinate to boost global dollar liquidity

  

  Bloomberg The Federal Reserve (Fed) and five counterparts united to ensure that dollars keep flowing around the world after the coronavirus emergency sparked a rush for greenbacks. In coordinated statements, the Fed, Bank of Japan (BOJ), European Central Bank (ECB), Swiss National Bank (SNB), Bank of Canada and Bank of England (BOE) said they would use their swap lines to …

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• 16 March

  China injects $14.3bn into banking system

  

  Bloomberg China’s central bank added to its growing list of measures aimed at countering the economic fallout from the spreading virus, injecting $14.3 billion into the financial system. The People’s Bank of China offered 100 billion yuan via the one-year medium-term lending facility, keeping the rate unchanged at 3.15%. There were no loans coming due Monday. The central bank refrained …

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• 16 March

  Citi eyes 10% asset growth as virus-worn Asia goes online

  

  Bloomberg Citigroup Inc. is forecasting a 10% boost in new clients and assets at its retail wealth unit in Asia, betting that a digital push will help it grow this year even as the coronavirus upends businesses across the region. The bank plans to expand its customer base across 12 markets, underpinned by online growth, said Fabio Fontainha, Citi’s head …

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• 16 March

  BMO Harris faces $3.5b trial over Ponzi scheme

  

  Bloomberg BMO Harris Bank, a unit of Bank of Montreal, must face billions of dollars in investor claims tied to a massive Ponzi scheme run by former client Tom Petters, a judge ruled. A request by BMO Harris to have the case thrown out before trial was rejected Friday by a federal judge in St. Paul, Minnesota. The claim was …

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• 16 March

  Giant US banks vow to stop buybacks to aid clients, nation

  

  Bloomberg Eight giant US banks including JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Bank of America Corp. agreed to stop buying back their own shares through the second quarter, saying they will focus on supporting clients and the nation during the coronavirus pandemic. “The decision on buybacks is consistent with our collective objective to use our significant capital and liquidity to provide …

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