Big Economic Reads: Coronavirus Shakes Global Growth Outlook

(Bloomberg) --

The outbreak of the deadly coronavirus forced economists to ponder their call for the world economy to stabilize in 2020 as they began considering the risk it posed to supply chains and monetary policy.

Meantime, the Federal Reserve gave fresh insight into its view of inflation and the Bank of England delivered a downbeat assessment on the U.K.’s outlook.

Such topics are among the collection of this week’s analysis, scoops and enterprise from Bloomberg Economics:

• Virus Poses New Threat to Economy’s Fragile Stabilization
• China Virus Raises Questions About Its Trade Deal With U.S.
• China Seen Boosting Stimulus as Virus Hammers the Economy
• How the Coronavirus Can Bring the U.S., China Together (Podcast)
• GLOBAL INSIGHT: Virus May Drag China GDP to 4.5%, Ripple Wider
• GLOBAL INSIGHT: How Coronavirus Can Infect Global Supply Chains

Enda Curran and Katia Dmitrieva showed how economists were adapting their forecasts to the spreading virus as did the team from Bloomberg Economics. Malcolm Scott detailed what it might mean for government policy and James Mayger weighed in on implications for the trade deal with the U.S. Bloomberg’s Stephanomics podcast also discussed the risks.

• Powell Paves Way for Possible Dovish Shift in Inflation Strategy
• Fed Officials Subtly Shift Inflation Strategy Amid Review
• BOE Holds Rates in Carney’s Swansong as Britain Exits EU
• Ukraine Slashes Key Rate to Lowest Since 2014 on Inflation

While the Fed left interest rates unchanged, Chris Condon, Rich Miller and Matthew Boesler detailed why it may be changing tack in its effort to spur inflation. In the U.K., the Bank of England kept its benchmark on hold in Governor Mark Carney’s final meeting, waiting for more evidence of an economic rebound before supporting it with a cut. Meanwhile, emerging-market central banks continued reducing rates.

• Moody’s Says It’s Too Early to Judge South Africa’s Progress
• Prowling Lions and Corrupt Officials Block Roads to Africa Trade
• South Africa Will Caution Trump on ‘Premature’ Trade Review

Prinesha Naidoo detailed some of the debates swirling in South Africa over its economic future, including trade relations with the U.S.

• The Crisis That Shattered India’s Economic Dreams

Bloomberg reporters Vrishti Beniwal, Rahul Satija, Dhwani Pandya and Anirban Nag took a long lens to look at how India’s economy suddenly started crumbling and why.

• As U.S. Men Lag in Job Market, Their Canadian Peers Win Big

Shelly Hagan identified a trend in Canada which shows men have been particular winners from a hot labor market, a divergence from the U.S. where women are eclipsing men.

• It’s Reform-or-Die Time for a Pillar of the Global Economy
• Bourbon and Scotch Makers Find a Common Enemy in Tariffs
• Citigroup’s Mann, BlackRock’s Hildebrand Debate Globalization

The latest edition of Bloomberg Markets Magazine is focused on trade. Here are some of the articles that will feature.

To contact the reporter on this story: Simon Kennedy in London at skennedy4@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Stephanie Flanders at flanders@bloomberg.net, Zoe Schneeweiss, Ana Monteiro

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