June, 2020

• 15 June

  Leo Varadkar set to be replaced as Irish prime minister under coalition plan

  

  Bloomberg Ireland’s first grand coalition moved a step closer, as political leaders signed off on the final detail of a program for government. Prime Minister Leo Varadkar’s Fine Gael, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and the Green’s Eamon Ryan agreed the plan for the next five years, and will now put it to the parties’ lawmakers and members in coming ...

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• 15 June

  Singapore to ease virus curbs, resume activities

  

  Bloomberg Singapore will this week further relax restrictive measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus, with the government assessing the situation in the country to be under control. After June 18 at 11:59 pm, most activities will be allowed to resume subject to safe distancing principles, according to a press release from the Ministry of Health on Monday. Small ...

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• 15 June

  US top court refuses to review police ‘qualified immunity’

  Bloomberg The US Supreme Court refused to take up a new test of “qualified immunity,” rejecting several appeals that challenged the legal doctrine that has become a broad liability shield for police officers accused of civil rights violations. Qualified immunity has come under renewed scrutiny in recent weeks amid the nationwide protests sparked by the May 25 death of George ...

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• 15 June

  Denmark unfreezes $9 billion in vacation funds for spending

  

  Bloomberg Denmark will release 60 billion kroner ($9 billion) of vacation pay that’s been held in reserve in an effort to create new jobs and boost consumer spending. The funds had set aside amid changes to the system. The government has now agreed with parliament to make it available to both public and private-sector workers by October, according to statement ...

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• 15 June

  Germany to borrow $246bn this year to pay for stimulus

  

  Bloomberg The German government will request authorisation from parliament to raise a further 62 billion euros ($70 billion) in debt to help pay for its massive stimulus program, according to two people with direct knowledge of the plan. That would bring the total of new debt this year to 218 billion euros, said the people who requested not to be ...

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• 15 June

  Sweden weighs stricter bond-trading rules

  Bloomberg Sweden’s financial watchdog says it may need to tighten rules around bond trading following a liquidity crunch that led 35 fixed-income funds to slam shut in March. Peter Svensson, a spokesman for the Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA) in Stockholm, said one area of particular interest is an exemption granted to Swedish securities firms a few years back, essentially giving ...

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• 15 June

  PM Johnson tells Brits to ‘shop with confidence’ as shops open

  

  Bloomberg British Prime Minister Boris Johnson encouraged consumers to go out and “shop with confidence” when stores reopen in England on Monday, as he suggested social distancing rules will be eased. Johnson said coronavirus regulations requiring people to stay 2 meters apart in public spaces could be relaxed as infection rates fall. His signal will be welcomed by Conservative Party ...

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• 15 June

  UK house prices rise amid lockdown easing

  Bloomberg UK house prices increased as lockdown measures that froze the market were relaxed, Rightmove Plc said. Asking prices in June were 1.9% higher compared to March, before the market was put on hold, the property website operator said on Monday, bringing average values to $424,000. Restrictions put in place to slow the outbreak of the coronavirus were eased in ...

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• 15 June

  Covid-19: Rush to disinfect offices worries health experts

  

  Bloomberg Businesses across the US have begun intensive Covid-19 disinfection regimens, exposing returning workers and consumers to some chemicals that are largely untested for human health, a development that’s alarming health and environmental safety experts. The rush to disinfect is well-intentioned. Executives want to protect employees while abiding by US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention guidelines (and to avoid ...

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• 15 June

  European stocks decline to three-week low, dollar rises

  

  Bloomberg European stocks sank to a three-week low and US futures slid as evidence of a second virus wave dashed hopes of a quick economic recovery. Treasuries and the dollar rose. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index pared some losses, but was still 1.4% lower. S&P 500 futures sank 2.2% and Treasuries rallied, pushing the 10-year yield to 0.67%. BP Plc ...

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