February, 2020

• 3 February

  UAE suspends all China flights except for Beijing

  

  ABU DHABI / WAM The UAE on Monday announced the suspension of all flights to and from China, with the exception of the country’s capital, Beijing, which will remain unaffected. The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), said that the suspension would come into force on February 5 – until further notice – adding that the decision is part of precautionary …

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• 3 February

  China oil demand drops by 20%

  

  Bloomberg Chinese oil demand has dropped by about 3 million barrels a day, or 20% of total consumption, as the coronavirus squeezes the economy, according to people with inside knowledge of the country’s energy industry. The drop is probably largest demand shock the oil market has suffered since the global financial crisis of 2008 to 2009, and the most sudden …

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• 3 February

  Emirates Global Aluminium gets $600mn revolving credit facility

  

  ABU DHABI / WAM Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), on Monday announced it has secured a $600 million revolving credit facility with a syndicate of UAE and international banks. According to a press release issued by EGA on Monday, the three year committed facility, priced at a competitive margin, replaces uncommitted facilities extended to EGA separately by a number of banks. …

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• 3 February

  China solar industry seeking support amid virus outbreak

  

  Bloomberg China’s leading solar association called on the government to provide support to the industry as measures to contain the outbreak of a virus are hampering the restart of manufacturing activity. The China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA) is asking policy makers to delay tariff cuts for solar power, deputy secretary Liu Yiyang said. The group is also seeking subsidies or …

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• 3 February

  Stalled PennEast pipeline wins backing

  

  Bloomberg A controversial $1 billion shale gas pipeline that’s been stalled by a dispute over whether it can seize state-owned land for construction won the backing of the nation’s top energy regulator. PennEast had sought the support of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) after a court decision prevented it from exercising eminent domain in New Jersey. Its developers — …

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• 3 February

  Stocks in China slide; US equity futures advance

  

  Bloomberg US equity futures rose and European stocks fluctuated following steep losses at the end of last week and as investors digested the latest developments in the coronavirus outbreak. Shares plunged in China as markets there reopened after a long holiday. Contracts on the three main American equity indexes all advanced in the wake of previous declines. Gains in technology …

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• 3 February

  India’s tax rates cloud prospects of insurers

  

  Bloomberg India’s steps in the budget to end some exemptions given for tax planning and the removal of a dividend-distribution tax for companies will weigh on the earnings prospects of insurers. The lower tax rates under the alternative tax slabs will only apply to those forgoing exemptions, which include investments in certain insurance products. Insurers will be taxed on dividend …

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• 3 February

  Bitcoin spikes to October highs as China stocks dip

  Bloomberg Cryptocurrencies briefly jumped amid chaotic trading in Asia after China’s stock markets reopened to steep losses following an extended holiday shutdown. Bitcoin surged to $9,608, the highest since October, shortly after markets opened at 9:30 am in Hong Kong, before giving back most of those gains less than half an hour later. The wider Bloomberg Galaxy Crypto Index tracking …

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• 3 February

  China cuts rates, adds $21.4b in liquidity as markets sink

  

  Bloomberg China’s central bank took its first concrete steps to cushion the economy and plunging markets from the blow of a spreading new virus, providing short-term funding to banks and cutting the interest rate it charges for the money. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) added a net 150 billion yuan ($21.4 billion) of funds on Monday using 7-day and …

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• 3 February

  Indonesia takes ‘bold’ steps to shield rupiah from virus shock

  

  Bloomberg Indonesia’s central bank is taking “bold” steps to guard the nation’s currency and bonds as mounting concerns about the economic impact of the novel coronavirus epidemic trigger a selloff by foreign investors. Bank Indonesia is intervening in the bond, currency and non-deliverable forwards markets to protect the rupiah, Nanang Hendarsah, the central bank’s executive director for monetary management, said …

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