June, 2020

• 8 June

  Swedish PM rebuked over Covid deaths

  

  Bloomberg The prime minister of Sweden was forced to defend his Covid-19 strategy after opposition parties mounted a scathing attack on his government amid signs its handling of the pandemic has been fatally flawed. With more than 4,500 Swedes now dead as a result of the coronavirus, and Sweden’s chief epidemiologist admitting mistakes, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven was the target ...

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• 8 June

  Covid-19: Brazilians protest in several cities

  

  Bloomberg Anti-government demonstrations broke out in several Brazilian cities as President Jair Bolsonaro suffers growing backlash against his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Protesters carrying signs in defense of democracy and against racism gathered in Brazil’s largest cities despite medical recommendations of social distancing, many encouraged by US demonstrations that followed the death of George Floyd. Pro-Bolsonaro marches also took ...

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• 8 June

  Sweden’s government steps up efforts to vet foreign takeovers

  

  Bloomberg Sweden is stepping up efforts to shield its critical businesses from foreign takeovers at a time of economic weakness due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Interior Minister Mikael Damberg and Foreign Trade Minister Anna Hallberg on Monday unveiled a series of proposals. They include asking the Swedish Defense Research Agency to map out areas where foreign direct investments may have ...

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• 8 June

  German industrial output falls record 17.9% in April

  

  Bloomberg German industrial production took a record-hit in April, before a gradual easing of lockdown restrictions set off an ever-so-slow recovery. Output slumped 17.9% during the month that saw unprecedented closures of factories and shops, with manufacturers of investment goods particularly badly affected. Even though activity has started to pick up since then, Europe’s largest economy is still set to ...

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• 8 June

  Coronavirus: Spain to allocate $10.2b to regional healthcare

  

  Bloomberg Spain has earmarked 9 billion euros ($10.2 billion) to help fund regional governments’ healthcare response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The central government will transfer 6 billion euros in September and as much 3 billion in November, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a televised statement. The measure will be approved by the cabinet through a decree on June 16, ...

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• 8 June

  Mexico seeks $1 billion loan from World Bank

  Bloomberg Mexico asked the World Bank for a $1 billion loan, according to El Economista newspaper, which cited a loan agreement it viewed. Mexico Deputy Finance Minister Gabriel Yorio said the financing was a development policy loan and would not be used for its Covid-19 response program. Yorio did not say in his tweets how large the loan was. The ...

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• 8 June

  Big pharma looks beyond virus as AstraZeneca eyes Gilead

  

  Bloomberg Two drugmakers behind the industry’s most prominent responses to the Covid-19 pandemic are looking into the possibility of a combined future as economies emerge from lockdowns. AstraZeneca Plc, co-developer of one of the fastest-moving experimental coronavirus vaccines, has made a preliminary approach to Gilead Sciences Inc., maker of the only US-approved treatment, according to people familiar with the matter. ...

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• 8 June

  Finland taps ex-PM to steer public finances

  Bloomberg Finland is turning to former Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen to steer it out of the Covid-19 slump and help rebuild its public finances after a massive bout of stimulus spending. The Center Party unanimously chose the 64-year-old speaker of parliament as the country’s new finance minister after Katri Kulmuni stepped down over an expenses scandal. Vanhanen told a press ...

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• 8 June

  European stocks decline with dollar; oil advances

  

  Bloomberg European stocks dropped, the dollar weakened and US equity futures fluctuated as investors mulled how much further to take the global rally in risk assets. Technology and health-care shares led the Stoxx Europe 600 Index lower. The greenback fell against a basket of its peers and headed for the longest losing streak since 2011. Brent crude oil rose to ...

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• 8 June

  Indian stocks climb as lockdown ends

  Bloomberg Indian stocks rose for a second day as the country entered the first phase of opening up its economy, with hotels, restaurants and shopping malls permitted to function after more than two months of lockdown. The S&P BSE Sensex advanced 1.4% to 34,757 as of 10:57 am in Mumbai, with the NSE Nifty 50 Index also gaining by the ...

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