China Growth Revival, Expansion Ends, QE’s New Ground: Eco Day

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

• China aims to build its way out of the coronavirus slump. Local governments are expected to issue up to 4 trillion yuan ($565 billion) in special bonds, to be spent on roads, airports, and railways
• Less than a year ago, the U.S. economic expansion was celebrated as the longest on record. This week its end will become official. Former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan thinks the economy should be able to stage a strong comeback
• From Jakarta to Wellington, policy makers are creeping closer toward the monetization of government debt, breaking new ground after the U.S. and Europe took the lead a decade ago
• The U.S. central bank hasn’t even started buying corporate bonds, yet perception of backing has helped risky firms borrow anew. Meanwhile, the unprecedented pace of mortgage buying is causing some unusual changes in the sector
• The strict shutdown enforced in Mexico is causing supply-chain disruptions for U.S. firms and companies are scrambling as current inventory is running low
• In the tug-of-war between India’s states and federal government for cash to fight the coronavirus outbreak, liquor is the latest battleground
• Saudi Arabia’s central bank depleted its net foreign assets in March at the fastest clip since at least 2000, showing the severity of the damage inflicted on public finances by the slump in oil prices
• The IMF approved $3.4 billion in emergency funding to Nigeria, the single biggest disbursement for any country yet with the coronavirus pandemic
• Manhattan homebuyers were already calling the shots in deals before the coronavirus hit. Now they’re more in control than ever
• Russia, one of the world’s top wheat shippers, was among the first nations that moved to guard domestic food supplies amid the coronavirus pandemic

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