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BOE on Hold, Czechs Set to Cut, China Exports Rise: Eco Day

BOE on Hold, Czechs Set to Cut, China Exports Rise: Eco Day

(Bloomberg) -- Welcome to Thursday, Europe. Here’s the latest news and analysis from Bloomberg Economics to help you start the day:

  • Bank of England policy makers signaled they may need to do more to combat the U.K.’s economic slump as the coronavirus pandemic ravages the economy, while voting to keep their benchmark interest rate unchanged at a record-low 0.1%.
  • The U.K. is set to ease parts of its nationwide lockdown Monday, with companies warning that continuing social distancing will hurt any economic recovery
  • The key question emerging from European Central Bank discussions after Germany’s constitutional court legal bombshell is who will defuse it. Meantime, Germany is preparing to open restaurants and all shops as well as to restart professional soccer games
  • The Czech Republic is poised to extend the European Union’s steepest interest-rate cuts as the central bank tries to amplify government efforts to fight economic damage from the coronavirus
  • China’s exports unexpectedly rose in April aided by stronger shipments to South East Asia, though with the coronavirus pandemic damaging global demand that increase is likely to be temporary
  • The coronavirus pandemic may be putting EU enlargement on the back burner, but aspirant Balkan nations could get a welcome dose of economic integration in the meantime
  • A landmark study conducted in Finland shows that giving the unemployed free money doesn’t provide the boost to the jobs market that some had hoped it would. But it does raise happiness levels
  • India is seeking to lure U.S. businesses, including medical devices giant Abbott Laboratories, to relocate from China as President Trump’s administration steps up efforts to blame Beijing for its role in the coronavirus pandemic
  • Layoffs start turning from temporary to permanent across America
  • Australia’s record run without a technical recession has a slim chance of continuing in what would be another dramatic escape for the world’s longest economic growth streak

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