Ukraine’s GDP in January 2020 decreased 0.5%, the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture has said based on information from the State Statistics Service. Source Kievpost
China’s oil demand has recovered to more than 90% of the levels seen before the coronavirus pandemic struck early this year, a surprisingly robust rebound that could be mirrored elsewhere in the third quarter as more countries emerge from lockdown. Source Reuters
- The European Central Bank increased its Pandemic Emergency Purchase programme by a further €600 billion ($676 billion) on Wednesday.
- Markets were largely expecting a €500 billion ($563 billion) increase.
- The new package takes the ECB’s total announced monetary stimulus to €1.35 trillion ($1.52 trillion).
- ECB also extended its horizon for net purchases until at least June 2021. Source Business Insider
The European Central Bank will buy an extra €600bn of bonds in a bid to revive the eurozone’s pandemic-stricken economy, it announced on Thursday, while slashing its forecasts for growth and inflation.
ECB president Christine Lagarde said the region was “experiencing an unprecedented contraction”, adding that “severe job and income losses and exceptionally elevated uncertainty” had led to a “significant fall” in both consumer spending and investment. Source FT Blog
