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The biggest coronavirus risk to retailers on both sides of the Atlantic may turn out to be empty stores, rather than empty shelves. As the outbreak has spread from Asia to Europe and the US, concern has shifted from the impact on supply chains because of closed Chinese factories to the potential of the deadly disease to put a sudden ...

If the quantum of public spending alone decided the seriousness with which small, open Asian economies are fighting the coronavirus, then Hong Kong’s HK$120 billion ($15.4 billion) package ought to be three times punchier than rival Singapore’s. When it comes to the quality of expenditure and the financing, though, Hong Kong’s plan seems to be less about protecting lives and ...

The Italian government has announced a 3.6-billion euro ($4 billion) stimulus package to help the economy cope with the coronavirus outbreak. The response appears timely and proportionate. Rome can always add to the stimulus later — provided the financial markets allow it. Roberto Gualtieri, minister of finance, said in an interview that he was looking at a three-step plan to ...

Twitter Inc. deserves a full-time CEO. That’s the message from activist investor Elliott Management Corp., which has taken a stake of around 5% and has nominated members to the social-media company’s board as part of a campaign to oust incumbent Jack Dorsey. In addition to running Twitter — which he co-founded — Dorsey is also CEO of online payments processor ...

Bloomberg American stock-index futures rose with European equities as investors took in surprises from the US presidential primary along with market reactions to the Federal Reserve’s emergency interest-rate cut. Treasuries higher continued their rally, while the dollar steadied. Contracts on the S&P 500 rebounded from a tumble on Tuesday, when the 50 basis-point Fed move failed to ease concerns about ...

Bloomberg Indian stocks declined, with the benchmark headed for its lowest level in more than four months, after the health ministry reported new novel coronavirus cases. The S&P BSE Sensex dropped 1.6% to 37,996.89 in Mumbai on Wednesday after earlier swinging between gains and losses. The index rebounded on March 3, snapping the worst seven-day rout in almost five years ...

Bloomberg Just as stocks everywhere are being whipsawed by concern that the spreading coronavirus outbreak could bring global economic growth to a standstill, Hong Kong equities have shown relative stability. The Hang Seng Index hasn’t seen a move exceeding 3% in either direction in six months, while the S&P 500 Index has posted moves of that magnitude in four out ...

Bloomberg Target Corp delivered a sanguine outlook for the year ahead, saying the coronavirus hasn’t had a big impact on operations yet while pressing ahead with growth initiatives online and in the stores. While the retailer has witnessed “aggressive shopping” as consumers stockpile food and other household essentials in recent days, Chief Executive Officer Brian Cornell told investors that he ...

Bloomberg More travel restrictions will be announced soon to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, said Transportation Security Administration (TSA) chief David Pekoske. “There will be additional countries, I’m sure, as we continue to work with the task force, and I think those announcements will be relatively soon,” Pekoske told the US Senate Appropriations Committee’s homeland security panel. The comments ...

Bloomberg Amazon.com’s Prime Now and Amazon Fresh delivery services have been overwhelmed by demand, a sign that virus-spooked shoppers are turning to the world’s largest online retailer to avoid going to brick-and-mortar stores. Amazon warned customers that both services would have limited availability, meaning orders are being delivered more slowly than usual. The company hasn’t reduced the number of people ...