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| March Was Wall Street’s Worst Month Since 2008: Live Updates | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| March was a month of head-snapping turns in financial markets: The S&P 500 suffered its worst one-day drop since 1987 before later recording its best three-day run since 1933, oil prices crashed, interest rates plunged and Wall Street’s more esoteric markets seized up. | |
| The roller coaster came as investors found themselves overwhelmed by a shutdown of the world economy. Early in the month, the record-breaking, 11-year bull market ended, and trading was halted more than once to prevent a crash. | The roller coaster came as investors found themselves overwhelmed by a shutdown of the world economy. Early in the month, the record-breaking, 11-year bull market ended, and trading was halted more than once to prevent a crash. |
| An enormous fiscal and policy response at the end of the month helped undo some of the worst of the damage. The S&P 500 recouped more than half of its losses in the final week of the month after lawmakers passed a $2 trillion spending package and the Federal Reserve said it would buy an unlimited amount of government-backed debt to keep markets functioning. | An enormous fiscal and policy response at the end of the month helped undo some of the worst of the damage. The S&P 500 recouped more than half of its losses in the final week of the month after lawmakers passed a $2 trillion spending package and the Federal Reserve said it would buy an unlimited amount of government-backed debt to keep markets functioning. |
| But even as stocks rebounded well off their lowest point, March was the worst month for the S&P 500 since October 2008, when investors feared a collapse of the economy in the wake of the global financial crisis. The S&P 500 fell 12.5 percent this month. The index is down 20 percent so far this year. | |
| On Tuesday, stocks fell 1.6 percent. | On Tuesday, stocks fell 1.6 percent. |
| Calmer markets do not mean the worst is over. As consumers stay home and factories shut down, millions of workers have lost their jobs. Economic data showing the scale of the damage has only just begun to roll in, and Wall Street analysts continue to downgrade expectations for the economy. | |
| Goldman Sachs, for example, now expects U.S. economic output to plunge at an annualized rate of 34 percent in the second quarter. The unemployment rate will hit 15 percent, the bank said in a research note on Tuesday. | Goldman Sachs, for example, now expects U.S. economic output to plunge at an annualized rate of 34 percent in the second quarter. The unemployment rate will hit 15 percent, the bank said in a research note on Tuesday. |
| But the worst of the recent swings in asset prices seem to have ended, and investors are trying to find a footing. | But the worst of the recent swings in asset prices seem to have ended, and investors are trying to find a footing. |
| “We appear to be seeing improved sentiment,” Yousef Abbasi, global market strategist at INTL FCStone, a financial services and brokerage firm, wrote in a note to clients on Tuesday. “When sentiment does start to improve around the virus and its ultimate economic impact — the market will find it difficult to ignore the size and scope of the fiscal and monetary stimulus that has been undertaken.” | “We appear to be seeing improved sentiment,” Yousef Abbasi, global market strategist at INTL FCStone, a financial services and brokerage firm, wrote in a note to clients on Tuesday. “When sentiment does start to improve around the virus and its ultimate economic impact — the market will find it difficult to ignore the size and scope of the fiscal and monetary stimulus that has been undertaken.” |
| With the coronavirus pandemic all but eliminating travel, demand for energy is tumbling, and oil companies from Algeria to West Texas are slashing budgets. Refineries are cutting production of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, and oil companies are dropping rigs, dismissing fracking crews and beginning to shutter wells. | With the coronavirus pandemic all but eliminating travel, demand for energy is tumbling, and oil companies from Algeria to West Texas are slashing budgets. Refineries are cutting production of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, and oil companies are dropping rigs, dismissing fracking crews and beginning to shutter wells. |
| As much as 20 percent, or 20 million barrels a day, of oil demand may be lost as the global economy slows, according to the International Energy Agency. That is roughly equivalent to eliminating all U.S. consumption. To make matters worse, Saudi Arabia and Russia are increasing oil production to regain market share from American oil companies that increased production and exports in recent years. | As much as 20 percent, or 20 million barrels a day, of oil demand may be lost as the global economy slows, according to the International Energy Agency. That is roughly equivalent to eliminating all U.S. consumption. To make matters worse, Saudi Arabia and Russia are increasing oil production to regain market share from American oil companies that increased production and exports in recent years. |
| The Trump administration has been trying to convince Saudi Arabia and Russia that they should cut production to help stabilize the oil market; President Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia discussed energy markets in a call on Monday. But the energy demand destroyed by the virus now overshadows anything that Saudi Arabia or Russia could do to reduce exports. | The Trump administration has been trying to convince Saudi Arabia and Russia that they should cut production to help stabilize the oil market; President Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia discussed energy markets in a call on Monday. But the energy demand destroyed by the virus now overshadows anything that Saudi Arabia or Russia could do to reduce exports. |
| Global oil benchmark prices hover around $20 a barrel — levels not seen in a generation — and regional prices in West Texas and North Dakota have fallen even further, to around $10 a barrel. That is about a quarter of the price that shale operators typically need to cover the costs of pulling oil out of the ground. If these prices persist, a big wave of bankruptcies is inevitable by the end of the year, experts say. | Global oil benchmark prices hover around $20 a barrel — levels not seen in a generation — and regional prices in West Texas and North Dakota have fallen even further, to around $10 a barrel. That is about a quarter of the price that shale operators typically need to cover the costs of pulling oil out of the ground. If these prices persist, a big wave of bankruptcies is inevitable by the end of the year, experts say. |
| Chris Cuomo, the CNN anchor and younger brother of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York, has tested positive for the coronavirus and is quarantining at his home, the network said on Tuesday. | Chris Cuomo, the CNN anchor and younger brother of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York, has tested positive for the coronavirus and is quarantining at his home, the network said on Tuesday. |
| Mr. Cuomo is “feeling well,” according to a memo distributed to CNN staff members, and he plans to continue hosting his prime-time program from a studio at his home. Mr. Cuomo confirmed the news himself on Twitter. | Mr. Cuomo is “feeling well,” according to a memo distributed to CNN staff members, and he plans to continue hosting his prime-time program from a studio at his home. Mr. Cuomo confirmed the news himself on Twitter. |
| Mr. Cuomo, 49, is one of the most prominent members of the American news media so far to test positive for the coronavirus. His illness is also notable in part because of the outsize role his brother, Governor Cuomo, has played in leading the response to the virus in the hard-hit state of New York. | |
| Governor Cuomo, when asked about his brother on Tuesday, said “he is going to be fine.” | Governor Cuomo, when asked about his brother on Tuesday, said “he is going to be fine.” |
| “He’s young, in good shape, strong, not as strong as he thinks, but he will be fine. But there’s a lesson in this,” he said. “He’s an essential worker, a member of the press, so he’s been out there. If you go out there, the chance that you get infected is very high.” | “He’s young, in good shape, strong, not as strong as he thinks, but he will be fine. But there’s a lesson in this,” he said. “He’s an essential worker, a member of the press, so he’s been out there. If you go out there, the chance that you get infected is very high.” |
| YouTube on Tuesday followed other social media companies in removing two videos shared by President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil for spreading coronavirus misinformation. | YouTube on Tuesday followed other social media companies in removing two videos shared by President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil for spreading coronavirus misinformation. |
| “Since early February, we have manually reviewed and removed thousands of videos related to dangerous or misleading coronavirus information,” said Farshad Shadloo, a YouTube spokesman. “It remains our top priority to provide information to users in a responsible way.” | “Since early February, we have manually reviewed and removed thousands of videos related to dangerous or misleading coronavirus information,” said Farshad Shadloo, a YouTube spokesman. “It remains our top priority to provide information to users in a responsible way.” |
| The company declined to identify the two videos removed. | The company declined to identify the two videos removed. |
| This week, Facebook and Twitter took down videos posted by Mr. Bolsonaro in which he called the anti-malaria prescription drug hydroxychloroquine a “cure everywhere” and encouraged the end of social distancing in Brazil. President Trump has also touted the drug in social media posts, saying it showed “tremendous promise,” but the tech companies said this did not violate their policies because there was not a clear call to action that would cause the public harm. | This week, Facebook and Twitter took down videos posted by Mr. Bolsonaro in which he called the anti-malaria prescription drug hydroxychloroquine a “cure everywhere” and encouraged the end of social distancing in Brazil. President Trump has also touted the drug in social media posts, saying it showed “tremendous promise,” but the tech companies said this did not violate their policies because there was not a clear call to action that would cause the public harm. |
| The Treasury Department detailed a new loan program on Tuesday that is intended to help small businesses hit by the coronavirus pandemic apply — and receive approval — for loans in one day. | The Treasury Department detailed a new loan program on Tuesday that is intended to help small businesses hit by the coronavirus pandemic apply — and receive approval — for loans in one day. |
| The program, which received $349 billion in funds through the economic relief package signed into law last week, is being run through the Small Business Administration with oversight from the Treasury. It is intended to help millions of businesses keep their workers on the payroll and cover some additional expenses as much of the economy is shuttered. | The program, which received $349 billion in funds through the economic relief package signed into law last week, is being run through the Small Business Administration with oversight from the Treasury. It is intended to help millions of businesses keep their workers on the payroll and cover some additional expenses as much of the economy is shuttered. |
| From Friday, business owners will be able to seek the loans at participating lenders, banks and credit unions. The loans will be forgiven if the employers do not lay off their workers. There are also no collateral requirements or S.B.A. fees associated with these loans, and any repayments can be deferred for up to six months. | |
| To try and ensure lenders don’t just seek out bigger loans, the program will pay higher fees to banks that make smaller loans. Lenders will be paid a 5 percent fee for loans $350,000 and under. Loans greater than $350,000 to $2 million will qualify for a 3 percent fee, and those for more than $2 million will generate a 1 percent fee. | |
| The maximum loan amount is $10 million. The loans are available to businesses with fewer than 500 employees. | The maximum loan amount is $10 million. The loans are available to businesses with fewer than 500 employees. |
| “Speed is the operative word; applications for the emergency capital can begin as early as this week, with lenders using their own systems and processes to make these loans,” said Jovita Carranza, the S.B.A. administrator. | “Speed is the operative word; applications for the emergency capital can begin as early as this week, with lenders using their own systems and processes to make these loans,” said Jovita Carranza, the S.B.A. administrator. |
| The number of hours Americans are devoting to streaming shows and movies has skyrocketed in the weeks since much of the country was given stay-at-home orders, according to a new study released by Nielsen. | The number of hours Americans are devoting to streaming shows and movies has skyrocketed in the weeks since much of the country was given stay-at-home orders, according to a new study released by Nielsen. |
| Total streaming viewership has gone up 35 percent in recent weeks, and the size of the audience is more than double what it was this time a year ago, Nielsen said. | Total streaming viewership has gone up 35 percent in recent weeks, and the size of the audience is more than double what it was this time a year ago, Nielsen said. |
| Americans watched a total of 156 billions of minutes of streaming shows and movies on televisions during the week of March 16, according to Nielsen, which does not measure what people watch on phone screens or tablets. In a comparable week last year, Americans streamed 71 billions minutes. All of the major streaming services — Netflix, YouTube, Amazon, Hulu — had increases, the research firm said. | |
| Netflix had the largest share of streaming minutes, with YouTube in second place. Netflix’s viewership has jumped 28 percent in the United States in the last few weeks, and the platform has many of the most-streamed shows, including originals like “Love is Blind” and standbys like “The Office.” The Netflix documentary series “Tiger King” was released March 20 and has been the No. 1 program on the platform in the United States for more than a week. | Netflix had the largest share of streaming minutes, with YouTube in second place. Netflix’s viewership has jumped 28 percent in the United States in the last few weeks, and the platform has many of the most-streamed shows, including originals like “Love is Blind” and standbys like “The Office.” The Netflix documentary series “Tiger King” was released March 20 and has been the No. 1 program on the platform in the United States for more than a week. |
| Much of television has had rating surges, including cable news and the evening news programs. But the streaming statistics are evidence that people are looking for distractions. | Much of television has had rating surges, including cable news and the evening news programs. But the streaming statistics are evidence that people are looking for distractions. |
| The empty shopping malls in Western cities are a testament to the crisis borne by global clothing and retail industries. But the impact reaches further, as the daily flow of thousands of orders placed by Western retailers to supplier factories in South Asia has slammed to a halt. | The empty shopping malls in Western cities are a testament to the crisis borne by global clothing and retail industries. But the impact reaches further, as the daily flow of thousands of orders placed by Western retailers to supplier factories in South Asia has slammed to a halt. |
| Fast fashion retailers rarely own the factories that supply them with their wares. Instead, the vast majority of garment and footwear orders are outsourced to suppliers in emerging markets like Bangladesh, where overhead is cheap and the cost of human labor is cheaper. | Fast fashion retailers rarely own the factories that supply them with their wares. Instead, the vast majority of garment and footwear orders are outsourced to suppliers in emerging markets like Bangladesh, where overhead is cheap and the cost of human labor is cheaper. |
| As orders dry up, factory owners face financial ruin, while the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of garment workers hang in the balance. | As orders dry up, factory owners face financial ruin, while the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of garment workers hang in the balance. |
| The majority of suppliers are in countries that can be the most vulnerable to large global economic shocks, such as India, Myanmar, Cambodia and Bangladesh, the second-largest garment exporter nation after China. | The majority of suppliers are in countries that can be the most vulnerable to large global economic shocks, such as India, Myanmar, Cambodia and Bangladesh, the second-largest garment exporter nation after China. |
| The Federal Reserve on Tuesday unveiled a new program that would let foreign central banks swap out their Treasury securities for dollars in short-term agreements. | The Federal Reserve on Tuesday unveiled a new program that would let foreign central banks swap out their Treasury securities for dollars in short-term agreements. |
| The goal is to prevent foreign nations from selling Treasuries in a scramble to acquire dollars. By stopping fire sales, the effort could help to ease strains on the crucial market, which is the backbone of the broader financial system. | The goal is to prevent foreign nations from selling Treasuries in a scramble to acquire dollars. By stopping fire sales, the effort could help to ease strains on the crucial market, which is the backbone of the broader financial system. |
| “They don’t want foreign central banks selling Treasuries into very illiquid markets,” said Gennadiy Goldberg, a market strategist at TD Securities. | “They don’t want foreign central banks selling Treasuries into very illiquid markets,” said Gennadiy Goldberg, a market strategist at TD Securities. |
| The new program will allow foreign central banks with accounts at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to enter into overnight repurchase agreements, swapping out security holdings for needed dollar funding. | The new program will allow foreign central banks with accounts at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to enter into overnight repurchase agreements, swapping out security holdings for needed dollar funding. |
| The Fed has currency swap lines in place — through which foreign central banks can temporarily exchange their currencies for dollars — but they exist only with 14 counterparts. Now central banks with plentiful Treasury holdings but few ways to turn them into quick cash — including the People’s Bank of China — will be eligible to apply. | The Fed has currency swap lines in place — through which foreign central banks can temporarily exchange their currencies for dollars — but they exist only with 14 counterparts. Now central banks with plentiful Treasury holdings but few ways to turn them into quick cash — including the People’s Bank of China — will be eligible to apply. |
| This new effort, available April 6, could widen that scope, allowing the Fed to funnel funding into economies where it lacks deep and longstanding relationships with its monetary policy counterparts. Because the agreements are backed by Treasuries, they will be very low-risk. | This new effort, available April 6, could widen that scope, allowing the Fed to funnel funding into economies where it lacks deep and longstanding relationships with its monetary policy counterparts. Because the agreements are backed by Treasuries, they will be very low-risk. |
| Tyson Foods said it would pay approximately $60 million in bonuses to 116,000 front-line workers and truckers in the United States. Eligible employees will receive a $500 bonus, payable in the first week of July. | Tyson Foods said it would pay approximately $60 million in bonuses to 116,000 front-line workers and truckers in the United States. Eligible employees will receive a $500 bonus, payable in the first week of July. |
| JCPenney became the latest retailer to furlough many of its workers, saying on Tuesday that it was making the move to protect the “future of our company.” The retailer did not say exactly how many of its 90,000 workers would be furloughed, but said it would affect the majority of its store employees. | JCPenney became the latest retailer to furlough many of its workers, saying on Tuesday that it was making the move to protect the “future of our company.” The retailer did not say exactly how many of its 90,000 workers would be furloughed, but said it would affect the majority of its store employees. |
| The Conference Board’s measurement of consumer confidence fell sharply this month, according to figures released Tuesday. It was the steepest one-month drop since August 2011. The data was collected through March 19, before many of the job losses from the coronavirus outbreak hit. | The Conference Board’s measurement of consumer confidence fell sharply this month, according to figures released Tuesday. It was the steepest one-month drop since August 2011. The data was collected through March 19, before many of the job losses from the coronavirus outbreak hit. |
| The Treasury Department called on distressed airlines to submit their applications to receive billions of dollars of coronavirus bailout money by Friday and to identify what they will offer in stock, warrants or other compensation to protect American taxpayers. | The Treasury Department called on distressed airlines to submit their applications to receive billions of dollars of coronavirus bailout money by Friday and to identify what they will offer in stock, warrants or other compensation to protect American taxpayers. |
| Walmart said it would start providing masks and gloves to workers. The company will also begin taking the temperatures of employees as they show up to work at stores and distribution centers. Any employee with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher will be sent home and cannot return to work until they are fever free for at least three days. | Walmart said it would start providing masks and gloves to workers. The company will also begin taking the temperatures of employees as they show up to work at stores and distribution centers. Any employee with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher will be sent home and cannot return to work until they are fever free for at least three days. |
| Ford Motor said Tuesday that it was indefinitely postponing the resumption of auto production in North America “to help protect its workers.” The announcement came five days after the company said it aimed to reopen a factory in Mexico on April 6 and some U.S. plants on April 14. Ford said it expected to start making a federally approved ventilator in cooperation with GE Healthcare at a plant in Ypsilanti, Mich., the week of April 20, with paid volunteers from the United Automobile Workers union. | Ford Motor said Tuesday that it was indefinitely postponing the resumption of auto production in North America “to help protect its workers.” The announcement came five days after the company said it aimed to reopen a factory in Mexico on April 6 and some U.S. plants on April 14. Ford said it expected to start making a federally approved ventilator in cooperation with GE Healthcare at a plant in Ypsilanti, Mich., the week of April 20, with paid volunteers from the United Automobile Workers union. |
| Reporting was contributed by Natalie Kitroeff, Jessica Silver-Greenberg, Michael M. Grynbaum, Clifford Krauss, Carlos Tejada, Ben Casselman, Alan Rappeport, Michael Corkery, John Koblin, Elizabeth Paton, Niraj Chokshi, Raymond Zhong, Peter Eavis, Davey Alba, Sheera Frenkel, Kevin McKenna, Mohammed Hadi, Geneva Abdul, Jonah Bromwich, Kate Conger, Ernesto Londono and Daniel Victor. | Reporting was contributed by Natalie Kitroeff, Jessica Silver-Greenberg, Michael M. Grynbaum, Clifford Krauss, Carlos Tejada, Ben Casselman, Alan Rappeport, Michael Corkery, John Koblin, Elizabeth Paton, Niraj Chokshi, Raymond Zhong, Peter Eavis, Davey Alba, Sheera Frenkel, Kevin McKenna, Mohammed Hadi, Geneva Abdul, Jonah Bromwich, Kate Conger, Ernesto Londono and Daniel Victor. |