CORONAVIRUS CRISIS:
Ø Total confirmed cases: More than 3,563,596
Ø Total deaths: At least 248,135
Ø The coronavirus COVID-19 is affecting 212 countries and territories around the world and 2international conveyances: the Diamond Princess cruise ship harbored in Yokohama, Japan, and the Holland America's MS Zaandam cruise ship.
Ø US cases: At least 1,188,0294 (+27,255) and deaths: 68,587 (+1,143)
Ø Spain cases: At least 247,122 (+1,533) and deaths: 25,264 (+164)
Ø Italy cases: At least 210,717 +1,389) and deaths: 28,884 (+174)
Ø Thailand cases: At least 2,969 (+3) and deaths: 54
· The dollar rose, oil fell and stock markets were poised to slip on Monday as rising U.S.-China tensions over the coronavirus - and growing unease at the gulf between asset prices and grim economic reality - turned investors cautious.
The euro rose and the U.S. dollar fell against most of its peers, while the pound succumbed to weak economic data. Crude oil prices traded in and out of negative territory.
The dollar index fell 0.05%, with the euro up 0.21% to $1.0978.
The Japanese yen strengthened 0.26% versus the greenback at 106.93 per dollar, while sterling was last trading at $1.2491, down 0.80% on the day.
The Chinese yuan fell to a one-month low versus the dollar on Friday, a day after U.S President Donald Trump accused China of mishandling the outbreak of the novel coronavirus and threatened new tariffs on Beijing.
The Chinese yuan fell in the offshore market by 0.6% to 7.1240, having earlier declined to 7.1350 versus the U.S. currency, its lowest since April 2. The yuan was on track for its biggest daily drop since March 25.
· Trump says he believes there will be a coronavirus vaccine ‘by the end of the year’
President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he was confident that there will be a coronavirus vaccine by the end of the year, a timeline that’s even speedier than the optimistic projections laid out by his administration’s public health advisors.
“We are very confident that we are going to have a vaccine at the end of the year, by the end of the year,” Trump said. “We think we are going to have a vaccine by the end of this year, and we are pushing very hard.”
· Trump says more needs to be done to ease economic hit of coronavirus pandemic
U.S. President Donald Trump said there had to be more help for Americans suffering from the economic tailspin brought about by the new coronavirus in a possible hint he wants Congress to pass another aid bill.
Congressional Republicans have said their next top legislative priority related to the coronavirus will be steps to protect businesses from being sued when the economy begins to reopen.
· President Donald Trump said Sunday that he believed that a “mistake” in China was the cause of the spreading coronavirus pandemic, though he did not present any evidence for the claim.
· North Korean leader Kim Jong Un did not undergo surgery during almost three weeks of absence from public life, a South Korean official said on Sunday, as the two Koreas exchanged gunfire at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two sides.
North and South Korea exchanged gunfire around a rural guard post, raising tension a day after North Korean state media showed Kim visiting a factory, the first report of him making a public appearance since April 11.
· U.S. oil moved higher on Friday, with both benchmarks posting their first weekly gain in four weeks as OPEC and its allies embark on record output cuts to tackle a supply glut due to the coronavirus crisis.
West Texas Intermediate crude jumped 4.99%, or 94 cents, to settle at $19.78 per barrel, after climbing above $20 earlier in the session. Brent futures for July eased 7 cents, or 0.6%, to $26.31. The June contract expired on Thursday at $25.27.
After three consecutive weeks of losses, Brent was on track for a gain of more than 20% while WTI headed for an increase of about 16%.
Oil prices fell in early trade on Monday, paring last week’s gains, on worries the global oil glut may persist as U.S.-China trade tension could hold back an economic recovery even as coronavirus pandemic lockdowns start to ease.
Reference: CNBC, Reuters
Thai
Eng